(This was originally posted on the Bilerico Project, America's best LGBT blog, by best-selling author Patricia Nell Warren.)
A movement is afoot to punish the Mormon Church by getting the IRS to strip them of their tax-exempt status. I agree 110 percent. But why stop at the Mormon Church? Let's see to it that all the "yes on 8" contributors are punished. A friend just sent me the complete list. See below, after the jump. The list is long, and astounding for its diversity -- Mormons, Catholics, Anglicans, Jews, Protestant evangelicals and Pentecostals, you name it. Both churches and nonprofits are on the list. Every single one of these names should be stripped of their tax-exempt status by the IRS. Ditto the contributors in Arizona and Florida, where similar marriage bans were passed.
I've also seen mention of a boycott-Utah movement aimed at punishing the Mormon Church. The organizers want to target the state's tourist business and Sundance Film Festival. But here too, only a small part of the problem is being attacked.
The Mormon Church has massive interests outside of Utah, notably California, so boycotting Utah isn't going to hurt it much. And why punish Sundance, which didn't attack same-sex marriage and has fostered so much liberal indie filmmaking, including LGBT-themed movies?
An AP story published today tells us that the California yes-on-8 contributors are taking their show on the road to other states. The AP says: "Conservative activists want to apply the same formula they used to outlaw same-sex marriage in California to prevent other states from recognizing gay unions and President-elect Barack Obama from expanding the rights of gays and lesbians. Leaders of the successful Proposition 8 campaign say an unusual coalition of evangelical Christians, Mormons and Roman Catholics built a majority at the polls Tuesday by harnessing the organizational muscle of churches to a mainstream message."
With this new church strategy going national, it's crucial to get at the ROOT of this problem nationally.
A More Effective Strategy
Thousands of churches breaking the law in every state is the equivalent of that many-headed monster called the hydra in Greek myth. Many people tried to kill the hydra by cutting off one head. But the monster always grew another head. Along came the hero Theseus, who had the bright idea. He killed the hydra's body, and the whole monster died. The Greek myth is a lesson in problem-solving, and we need to heed it by taking away the tax-exempt status that gives these churches and churchy nonprofits their political power.
Personally I have no objection to churches exercising free speech in politics. But I'm ready to puke when I see them doing it at taxpayer expense. They don't like it when their tax money is spent on abortion, stem-cell research and other things they don't approve of. Well, I don't like it when the government spends my tax money to enable church proselytizing...which is essentially what the feds do by foregoing the taxes that these bodies might have paid.
If churches and religious nonprofits want to enjoy the same political freedoms as individual taxpayers, they should pay for the privilege...like the rest of us do. When I make contributions, I have to pay my state and federal taxes off the top, then study what I have left to see what I can afford to contribute to a campaign.
Frankly the very idea of these big ultraconservative churches and religious nonprofits with their swollen bank accounts, and their arrogance, and their massive corporation-like ability to swing the vote because they don't have a tax bill, makes me very angry. They get rich the way railroad barons and mining barons got rich in the 19th century, when there was no income tax.
In fact, if churches were paying their way with the IRS, the income for government might shrink our national debt by half...maybe more. There would be more federal money to do all the things that the American people say they want done by electing Obama...like tax cuts, job programs, extending unemployment benefits, reforming education and healthcare, more diversity of energy, and a lot of other things.
The Problem With the IRS
Unfortunately, the battle to cut the hydra in half is complicated by the fact that we also have to battle the IRS to get the job done.
All these activist churches are flouting the law because they know the IRS will let them get away with it. In recent years, influenced by conservative administrations, the IRS has quietly gotten lax on applying its tax regulations to churches and nonprofits. Finally, in 2005, after a long legal fight with the Christian Coalition, the IRS allowed the CC to keep its tax-exempt status...even though the CC violates the law by distributing millions of voter guides every year. And wasn't the timing interesting? The IRS gave churches a green light on illegal activism just in time for the 2008 Presidential campaign.
So this quiet paradigm shift in federal policy on 501c3s and religion is a flagrant violation of the separation of church and state. By rights, the IRS should be taking action on not only the Christian Coalition but every other name on this list below...and every name on any other state list of religious tax-exempt campaign contributors during this 2008 Presidential election.
Historically, the United States has already fought this dreary battle around government support of religion. Back in our early history when certain states had state churches, they compelled every resident of the state to pay tithes to the state church, whether the resident belonged to that church or not. For instance, if you lived in Connecticut, you had to pay tithes to the Congregational Church, even if you were a Quaker or Catholic. Essentially, that tithe was a tax. That "favored nation" treatment for churches came to an end when separation of church and state was firmly established across the country.
But in recent years, especially during the Bush reign, the government's old habit of giving churches a break on the tax front has come creeping back. Now, during the economic crisis, taxpayers and businesses are expected to shoulder their tax burden -- but churches have no tax burden at all. Essentially, we're all covering for the churches, which means we're supporting them financially, when we don't necessarily believe their way. And that tax burden is one that ALL taxpayers carry, not just LGBT people. This just isn't right.
So if the IRS doesn't act, the agency is abdicating its job and handing the country over to the churches -- in the same way that the FDA has abdicated ITS job on enforcing safety-in-drugs policy, thus handing the country over to the big pharmaceutical companies who are willing to market unsafe drugs.
My point is -- we should be organizing a broad-based coalition of our own, that brings in non-LGBT organizations and activists with their own interest in seeing the IRS enforce the law. A lot of Americans voted for Obama because they didn't like the ultraconservative church smell around McCain. This battle doesn't just belong to us, and it isn't just about same-sex marriage. It belongs to all Americans.
And by the way, the list of contributors included quite a few California public officials. But I deleted their names because they don't have tax-exempt status with the IRS.
I am sick of these religious people sucking the life out of the country economically, and out of our freedoms ethically, by using this tax gambit. It's time for this to stop.
Complete list is available here
Churches & Ministries
A. V. Alpha & Omega Ministries, Palmdale
Abundant Life Assembly of God, Copeland
All Seasons Ministries, El Cajon
Alpha and Omega Arlington Apostolic Church, Riverside
Alpine Anglican Church, Alpine
Amador Family Fellowship
Baldwin Park Church of Christ
Bethel Christian Fellowship
Bible Fellowship Church, Ventura
Biggs Community Assembly of God
Bright Mission Chapel
Bundy Canyon Christian Church and School, Wildomar
Calvary Assembly of God
Calvary Assembly, Milpitas
Calvary Baptist Church
Calvary Baptist Church, Modesto
Calvary Chapel of the Harbour
Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
Calvary Chapel Rancho Santa Margarita
Calvary Christian Center
Calvary Church
Calvary Temple
Camarillo Community Church
Canopy of Prayer Ministries
Canyon View Church of Christ, San Diego
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
Centerpoint Church
Central Baptist Church of Indio
Centro Cristiano Pan De Vida
Chapel in the Pines, Arnold
Chinese Evangelical Free Church, Monterey Park
Chinese Grace Bible Church, Sacramento
Christ Driven Church of Fowler Ca.
Christian Life Assembly
Christian Life Center
Christian Life Tools
Christian Outreach for Armenians, Glendale
Church of Christ, Upland
Church of the Living Christ
Church of the Living God of Perris Church of the Nazarene
Church of the Rock
Church of Scientology of San Diego
Community Counseling Services, Inc.
Community Christian Alliance Church
Core Christian Fellowship, Murrieta
Cornerstone Baptist Church
Cornerstone Baptist Church, Nicholasville KY
Cornerstone Christian Church, El Dorado Hills
Cornerstone Community Church of San Clemente
Cornerstone Fellowship, Livermore
CrossPoint Community Church of the Nazarene
Dan Kricorian Ministries Int'l
Dayspring Christian Fellowship
Desert Stream Ministries
Destiny Faith Center
Divine Mercy Knights of Columbus (14158), Natomas
Door of Faith Ministries International
East Clairemont Baptist Church, San Diego
Eastside Christian Church
El Cajon Wesleyan Church, El Cajon
Elsinore Christian Center, Lake Elsinore
Evangelical Free Church of Walnut
Faith Chapel Church of God in Christ, San Diego
Faith Community Church by the Sea, Encinitas
Faith Tabernacle
Faith to Faith Fellowship, Temecula
F.C.F.Int'l Ministries
Filipino American Community Church
First Baptist Church Anaheim
First Baptist Church of Fillmore
First Baptist Church of Hesperia
First Baptist Church of Menlo Park
First Baptist Church of Taft
First Baptist Church, Lomita
First Evangelical Church of Cerritos
First Fil-Am Christian Church
First Foursquare Gospel Church of San Jose, San Jose
First Fundamental Bible Church of Monterey Park
First Presbyterian Church, Amarillo TX
First Southern Baptist, Yucca Valley
Fontana Foursquare Church
Foxworthy Baptist Church
Free Indeed Christian Fellowship, Perris
Freedom Community Christian Church, Perris
Freewill Missionary Baptist Church, San Diego
Freewill Missionary Baptist Church, San Diego
Friends Church, Yorba Linda
Friendship Christian Fellowship Church, Moreno Valley
Gem of the Valley Church, Murrieta
God's Word Church, Apple Valley
Golden Altar Ministries, San Jose
Golden Gate Christian Church
Hamilton Square Baptist Church
Harvest Christian Fellowship
Heart of the Canyons Church
High Desert Church, Victorville
Highland Springs Fellowship, Banning
Hillsdale Baptist Church, North Highlands
Hope Vineyard Church, Santa Clarita
House of Luke, Hemet
Independent Church of Lake Elsinore
Irvine First Chinese Baptist Church
Joy Ministry for Christ, Los Angeles
Jubilee Family Church, Oskaloosa IA
Kingdom Conditioning Ministries, INC.
Koinonia Evangelistic Center, Moreno Valley
Lake Murray Church, Assemblies of God
Life Center Church, Lakewood
Light by the Bay Church, San Lorenzo
Lighthouse Assembly of God, Murrieta
Lighthouse Community Church, Lathrop
Live Ride Christian Church
Living Faith Christian Fellowship, Garden Grove
Living Stones Ministries
Living Word Christian Church, San Diego
Love and Unity Church of God in Christ, Compton
Luke Four Eighteen Ministries International, Temecula
Maranatha Chapel
Maranatha Chapel, Rancho Bernardo
Menlo Park Community Church of God in Christ, Menlo Park
Meridian Southern Baptist, El Cajon
Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, San Diego
Mountain View Community Church, Temecula
Mount Zion Assemblies
Napoleon Washington, Jr. Evangelistic Assn.
Nations Harvest Church, Sunnyvale
New Birth Kingdom Covenant
New Covenant Ministries Christian Fellowship
New Day Church
New Destiny Christian Church, Inc.
New Life Presbyterian Church
New Light Church of God, Riverside
New Seasons Church
Newhall Church of the Nazarene
New Venture Christian Fellowship
Northside Christian Church
Oasis of Faith Christian Center
Oroville Nazarene Church
Our Lady of the Redwoods Catholic Church
Our Redeemer Lives Church, Lake Elsinore
Paradise Hills Southern Baptist Church
Progressive M.B.C.of Berkeley
Rancho Baptist Church, Temecula
Ray of Hope Church, Pomona
Redemption Christian Fellowship
Refuge Ministries
Resurrection Power Ministries
Revival Christian Fellowship, Menifee
Ripon Grace Brethren Church
Rose Drive Friends Church, Yorba Linda
Rubidoux First Assembly of God
San Antonio Heights Community Church, San Bernardino
San Diego Christian Worship Center, San Diego
San Jose Church of Christ, San Jose
San Jose Foursquare Church, San Jose
San Jose Open Bible Church, San Jose
San Jose Word of Faith Christian Center, San Jose
San Mateo Pro Life
Santa Rosa Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
Set Free Ministries of San Diego, San Diego
Seventh Day Sabbath Second Advent Church
Sierra Madre Congregational Church
Shepherd of the Hills
Skyline Wesleyan Church, El Cajon
Solid Ground Brethren in Christ Church, Alta Loma
Sonoma Valley Community Church
South Coast Christian Assembly
South Valley Christian Church, San Jose
Southwest Christian Church, Temecula
Southwest Community Church, Indian Wells
Spirit Life Worship Center
St.Andrew Orthodox Church
St.Joseph Church
St Timothy Orthodox Church
St.Mary Catholic Church
St.Patrick's Church
State College Blvd.Church of Christ, Anaheim
Survivors of Assault Recovery/Living Word Christian Church, San Diego
TEN27 Church
The Bridge Church
The Calvary Chapel Churches
The Church of God of Prophecy, National City
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
The Home Church, Campbell
The Oasis Foursquare Church
The Rock Church, San Diego
Trinity Baptist Church
Tyler Baptist Church, Riverside
Valley Christian Church, Chino
Victory International Church, San Mateo
Victory Outreach of Eagle Rock
Vineyard Family Christian Fellowship, Downey
Vista Hope Church of the Nazarene
Voices of Hope Ministries
Whittier Church of Christ, Whittier
Wildwood Calvary Chapel
Windsor Hills Baptist Church, La Mesa
Word of Life Ministries Int'l, Riverside
Word of Truth Ministries
World Overcomers Church International
Zion Christian Fellowship, Spring Valley
Zion Lutheran Church, North Highlands, CA
Organizations
Active Christian Media
Advocates for Faith and Freedom
Agudath Israel of California
Alliance Defense Fund, serving as Legal Counsel
American Family Association
American Veterans Christian Alliance
Americas Hope
Armineh Chelebian for State Assembly 40th AD
Association of Christian Schools International, Northern and Southern Districts of CA
Bakersfield Republican Assembly
Bethel Baptist Academy
Brethren in Christ Church Pacific Conference
California Catholic Conference of Bishops
California Catholic Women's Forum
California Family Alliance
California Family Council
Capitol Resource Institute
Catholics at Work
Catholics for Protectmarriage. com
Catholics for the Common Good
Celebration Center, Modesto, CA
Center for Reclaiming America
CFFC-LA
Christians OnDemand
Communities of Western Washington African American Healthy Marriage Initiative
Comunidad Cristiana Internacional Campus Los Angeles
Seasoned Sisters
Bill and Pam Farrel Marriage and Family Communicators
National Organization for Marriage
FHR
Christian Citizenship Council of San Diego
Christian Educators Association International
Christian Examiner Newspaper
Concerned Women for America
Confraternidad Hispaña Bautista de California (Hispanic Southern Baptist Fellowship)
Coral Ridge Ministries
Creation Research of North America
Creation Research of the North Coast
Dobbins/Oregon House Action Committee
Duncan Hunter for 52nd Congressional District
Eagle Forum of California
Eagle Forum of Sacramento
East County Refuge Center
El Camino Christian Fellowship
ElectionForum. org
Evidence for God from Science
Faith2Action
Faith 316
Family Leader Network
Family Research Council
Father Neil W.Seidl Council # 13672
Focus on the Family
Foursquare International
G51 Group
Golden State Association of Christian Schools
Government for the People
Holistic Integrated Services Foundation (HIS), Fullerton
Home Fellowship
Iglesia de la Colina - RCA
Ignite Youth/New Wine Church
Institute for Families and Taxpayers
Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc.
Kerigma Entertainment
Knights of Columbus Council #3052
Knights of Columbus Frances Cabrini Council #8879
Knights of Columbus St.Elizabeth Council #8747, Milpitas
Knights of Columbus St.Michael's of Marin Council #10530, Novato
Knights of Columbus Council #12887, Roseville
Knights of Columbus Council #11724, Sacramento
Knights of Columbus Orange County
Knights of Columbus San Jose
Knights of Columbus St.Raphael Council #1292, San Rafael
Koinonia Sports & Fitness Assoc.
La Familia Hispana
Legacy Law Foundation
Liberty Counsel
Life After Foster Care
Los Angeles Community Builders Inc
Lydia Gutierrez for State Senate
Marriage and Parenting Students of Christ (MAPS)
Meridian Magazine
Network of Politically Active Christians
North Coast Republican Club
One Heart Foundation
Organized Business Council
Orthodox Union
Pacific Justice Institute
Pastors Rapid Response Team (Pastors in Coalition with ProtectMarriage. com)
Preserve Liberty
Proposition 22 Legal Defense and Education Fund
Public Awareness Ministries
Rancho Bernardo Baptist Church
Rancho Del Rey Church
RelayFast08
Republican Party of Riverside County
Revive Indonesia
Sacramento District Church of the Nazarene
SanDiegoAnglicans. com
Sonoma County Republican Party
Southbay Crossing
St.Mary's Charismatic Prayer Group
The Center for Teaching the Constitution
The Holy Name Society
The Knights of Columbus, Council 1346, San Mateo, CA
The River Worship Center
The Rock of Roseville
The Western Center for Law & Policy
Traditional Family Coalition
Traditional Values Coalition
Trinity Life Solutions
NorthBay Neonatology Associates, Inc.
Families First Counseling Services
Ebmeyer Charter & Tour
Superior Organizing Services
Ventura County Christian Leadership Council
Come Let Us Reason
Environmental Geology Services
54th AD Republican Central Committee
United Families California
Values Advocacy Council
VOCAL Californians for the Preservation of Family & Marriage
Wycliffe Bible Translators, Temecula
Visit The Bilerico Project for daily queer commentary.