Mormon Church reveals deeper involvement in Prop. 8

[SoCalNative]

The Mormon Church revealed in a campaign filing Friday that the church spent nearly $190,000 to help pass Proposition 8, the November ballot measure that banned gay marriage in California.

The disclosure comes as the church is being investigated by the state's campaign watchdog agency for violating state laws by not fully disclosing its involvement in the campaign before voters cast ballots on Nov. 4.

While many church members had donated directly to the Yes on 8 campaign - some estimates range as high as $20 million - the church itself had previously reported little direct campaign activity.

But in the filing made Friday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints reported thousands in travel expenses, such as airline tickets, hotel rooms and car rentals for the campaign. The church also reported $96,849.31 worth of "compensated staff time" - hours church employees spent working to pass the gay marriage ban.

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1588844.html

[EFerrari]

1. What eggzactly is "compensated staff time"?

Very interesting, that number.

[Radical Activist]

2. especially since

the mormon church has no paid clergy. it would be interesting to know what kind of staff they're talking about.

[EFerrari]

4. There's something here that won't bear inspection

and I sincerely don't believe it's only fear of a boycott. :shrug:

[tekisui]

5. The only mormon "paid staff" I am aware of is custodians and maintenance.

Every other position is voluntary, as a 'calling'.

I never knew them to fly their custodians around places. Something stinks here.

[EFerrari]

6. They "won" in Los Angeles County, if they actually won.

So, if I had the means, I'd go sniffing around L.A. Country for a laundromat. :shrug:

[FreeState]

7. There are paid staff in SLC - quite a few infact

they work on everything from making clothing (Garments) to producing Church Magazines etc. There is a whole PR firm of the church as well that is paid.

On the local level everything is generally not paid but that is not true for higher up - even the Prophet receives a stipend.

[tekisui]

8. You're right. I forgot about the church mags and garment production.

And, the church bookstore.

I didn't know about the PR firm.

[FreeState]

9. There is actually even more than that

the Church has its own insurance company, farms, archival firms and administration business (for instance Mr. Dodge who is in charge of membership records is a full time paid position). Never mind the web-designers, BYU (all 3 campuses) etc... there is a lot:)

[jkshaw]

3. Thank you for keeping us apprised of this,

SoCalNative. I've lived in Utah (not a Mormon) for nearly 45 years and the Mormon church drives me crazy with the we're-better-than-anyone stance. Their Prop 8 stance takes the cake.

[EFerrari]

10. Related thread about donors being "refunded" for contributions:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4970085&mesg_id=4970085