Mormon Tips
 | |
| Founded | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Fred Karger |
| Website | mormontips |
Mormon Tips is a project of the non-profit organization Rights Equal Rights (RER)—formerly called Californians Against Hate.[1] Mormon Tips was started in January 2017 by RER founder Fred Karger as a way to collect evidence of tax fraud by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) submitted from anonymous sources.[2][3][4] The organization will then use the gathered information to file a complaint with the IRS in order to revoke the LDS Church's tax-exempt status.[5][6][7][8]
History
[edit]The founder of Mormon Tips and RER, Fred Karger, first began a campaign opposing political activities of the LDS Church while running for the US presidency in 2011, with outspoken opposition to the church's efforts to block efforts for the legal recognition of same-sex marriages.[9] He picketed LDS stores and bookstores,[9] and filed a formal complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) against the LDS Church, accusing the church of hiding the extent of its financial involvement supporting Proposition 8.[10] Karger noticed discrepancies between the $2,078 worth of non-monetary contributions that the LDS Church had reported and all the activities that the church had undertaken to pass Proposition 8.[11][12] Roman Porter, the executive director of the FPPC, announced a full investigation later that month. The investigation examined the church’s involvement in providing phone banks, a website and commercials for Proposition 8,[10] ultimately finding the church guilty of 13 violations, which the LDS Church settled by paying a fine.[10][13] Inspired by the WikiLeaks project, Karger launched Mormon Tips as a way to gather evidence to oppose the political actions of the LDS Church by seeking to revoke its tax-exempt status.[8]
See also
[edit]- MormonLeaks
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and politics in the United States
- The Divine Institution of Marriage
- Protests against Proposition 8 supporters
- California Proposition 8 (2008)
References
[edit]- ^ "About". mormontips.com. Rights Equal Rights. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^ Carlisle, Nate (27 January 2017). "Comcast won't air ads pursuing Mormon church tax status, organizer says". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^ Nagaoka, Ashley (12 July 2017). "Mormon church targeted in new commercial after tax fraud concerns raised". Hawaii News Now. Raycom Media. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^ Walch, Tad (17 March 2017). "Groups ask Trump administration to investigate LDS Church". Deseret News. LDS Church. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^ "MormonTips". MormonTips.com. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^ "Tax Exempt #267 01/08 by TGIA Media | Atheism Podcasts". blogtalkradio.com. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^ ""Help Us" (Mormon Tips Commercial)". youtube.com. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^ a b Lang, Nico (8 February 2017). "The WikiLeaks-inspired war for the Mormon Church's deepest secrets". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^ a b Linkins, Jason (2011-04-12). "Fred Karger Declares Himself The 'Anti-Romney Candidate'". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ a b c McKinley, Jesse (2008-11-26). "Inquiry Set on Mormon Aid for California Marriage Vote". New York Times. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ^ Mencimer, Stephanie. "Game Changer" (PDF). Mother Jones. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
- ^ "Resume | Fred Karger Presidential Exploratory Committee". Fredkarger.com. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ Gay Activist Wins Against Mormon Church | www.lagunabeachindependent.com | Laguna Beach Independent [dead link]