Comments about ‘LDS Church officials, GOP leaders discuss upcoming legislative session’

Separation of Church & State is a moral issue too... as well a legal IRS issue!

You should really know the law and know what you're talking about before opening your mouth. The church's for profit arms pay enough taxes and contribute so much to the economy of the state that it's not unprecidented for the state leadership to meet with them. When they met with Dems there were no objections to dicussing such things with the Church.

Obviously you've never lived in Boston where the Catholic Church holds sway over local government as well it can.

Lighten up. I believe that the interpretation is that the Gov. will not be involved with establishing a state church. There is nowhere where it says or means that church's can't weigh in on moral issues in government or society.

why on earth are the mormons involved in CIVIL matters and the laws that control them...the mormons would do well to work on church matters and stay out of government unless they want to begin paying taxes.
sincerely, bob tanner.

Just to clarify, churches are allowed to support issues, not candidates, and still retain tax exemption.

We can sit here all day and argue if this is legal or not. It probably is legal. But is it ethical? I say not. If the LDS church wants a loudspeaker in our state legislature, then they can create their own party and run their own candidates. In the meantime, I don't want ANY church having private mettings with our representatives, and even if other states do the same thing, doesn't mean I'm going to approve of it any more.

Bob,

We "Mormons" ARE tax-paying constituents.

I belong to a group, "The Friends of the Refuge" in Oregon that supports a National Wildlife Refuge in the region. We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. During and election last year we issued a statement urging members to support a ballot measure. Should we lose our tax-exempt status for taking sides on a political issue?

I Dont like the church having private meetings with legislaters, who are mostly mormon as well.
It's like the church taking over and making the laws themselves.
Here is the good news....when everyone leaves the state because they cant get a drink and have to pay $7 for a pack of cigarrets. The religios zealots will have to pay their own taxes for thier own kids.....I See the Church crumbling anyways in the next 5 years do to falling membership because they will all be out of jobs and have over-built to fast .....like the rest of the U.S.

If there isn't a current mechanism that prevents this sort of interference into civil political machinations by the church, it's time we get one. It's the church's job to keep its' members out of the pub (it doesn't always succeed) and I'll look after myself, thank you.

I find it amusing how shrill comments are about church meddling in state affairs, when this article more or less confirms the church is being EXTREMELY (almost infuriatingly) moderate on many of the issues facing the state. Having just moved her from Washington, I think there are more smokers in this state than there, where it is vilified by folks whose only religion is what they read in medical journals... and taxes on such things are easily as high if not higher. Meanwhile I see many mormons bending over backwards to accomodate anyone who is different from them, to the point of being embarrassed by healthy standards that the rest of the world envies.

Organizations who meet privately with members of the legislation to promote their agendas are lobbyists.
Is there a registered lobby for the LDS church? If so there is no issue here.

And slbison, I've lived in Boston. The RC church does not not hold sway. Note: Gay marriage.

As a Canadian, I understand the US separation of church and state doctrine to mean the nation cannot place one particular church brand as official or in primacy over the others and over the people. So why do Americans of passionate cause continue to misuse the doctrine to mean a church can't speak out on anything? Is it in order to muzzle free speech? It seems to be quite an illegal unconstituional muzzle. I've heard celebrities coninually do this as if incompetence or purposeful misunderstanding is a requirement of fame.

Stay out of government, lds church or any other church for that matter.

The Church is a spiritual kingdom, not a political one. Their power and authority are spiritual, not political. They should stick with what they know and leave the political process alone. If they want to tell their own members to avoid alcohol, that is their authority. But telling members of the legislature anything at all is inappropriate. If the legislators are LDS, then they need to take their Mormon hats off during political deliberations.

The Founding Fathers were just as opposed to Churches influencing (and taking over) government as they were opposed to government "establishing" a state religion. The principle upon which they opposed mixing religious and political influence is the principle that any appeal to (religious) authority should never be a reason for political action. In other words, we should never create a law "because God (or the prophet or the Pope) said something is so." We should never pass a proposition because "the Bible says..." We should never legislate people's behavior because "X is a sin". We should never allow religious sentiment and fervor to override reason.

I am a Mormon. I am still waiting to be excused form paying taxes. As far as I know, all of my Mormon friends pay taxes too. I believe the Church pays taxes on properties and activities that generate a profit.

I am not sure what you mean when you say you want us to pay taxes. I'll bet we pay the majority of the taxes collected in Utah.

I am thrilled that my leaders are willing to represent my voice and the voice of my neighbors to the legislature.

Not sure how this could be a problem.

I find it somewhat amusing that people are bagging the LDS church in Utah and criticising a political stance. Doesn't history record that Utah was founded by the LDS church????? At one stage it was 100% LDS. If people don't like the LDS church in UT, then move out!!!!! Perhaps you could find a state of your own.

More stupid Laws comming
What seems to be the problem?
We Elect stupid people running as Republicans

If an issue appeared that a church wanted to express its opinion on, they could hold a press conference or make an appointment with a legislator like everyone else. But to have ANNUAL meetings with legislative leadership prior to the legislature meeting, IN ORDER TO DISCUSS PENDING ISSUES, is so blatant a abuse of influence that anyone who denies it is being dishonest to themselves. When is the annual meeting with the catholic and other denominations?

To be fair those same LDS state legislatures that held court with church officials now should reach out to Catholic, Protestant, Unitarian and Episcopal church leaders at their houses of worship to receive the same feedback.

RE: jplamereaux, then shouldn't murder be legal?