July 20, 1999

The LDS Church is under attack in California for its involvment in a fight over same sex marriage.

Because of that involvement, the church could face a challenge to its tax-exempt status. Is this a religious or political battle?

News Specialist Nadine Wimmer just returned from San Francisco, California, where the sides have squared off.

It's both political and religious.

But in this case, the fight seems to center on one religious group, the LDS Church.

San Francisco's gay and lesbian activists are ready to campaign against a California initiative that would recognize marriage only between a woman and man.

Several churches openly support the measure including, Catholics, Baptists and Muslims in California.

But criticism has been aimed almost exclusively on the LDS church.

What drew the ire of some city leaders was a letter that went out to California ward houses, urging members to give their time and means to support the marriage initiative.

Initiative organizer Rob Stutzman says churches have the right to have a voice.

"This isn't like endorsing a candidate, this is weighing in on a public policy of moral gravity here in California," he says.

But a San Francisco city leader disagrees.

Supervisor Mark Leno has asked California's attorney general and the IRS to investigate whether the LDS church's efforts violate its tax-exempt status.

"Whatever the IRS has established as the playing field, we all need to be on the same page," he says.

Opponents say what sets the LDS Church apart from other religious groups is its past record of aggressive support in other states.

The LDS Church donated more than $1-million to defeat same-sex marriage campaigns in Alaska and Hawaii.

Mike Marshall, of "Californians for Fairness" says, "They're not a big part of the electorate, so that doesn't concern me, but the money does."

But initiative supporters see action against the LDS Church as a thinly veiled threat.

"Frankly, that's chilling. That an elected official of government would try to turn the power of investigative government on people of faith because they, in their own houses of worship, care to discuss an issue of moral relevance."

Both sides believe the vote, scheduled during a presidential primary next March, will cost millions of dollars and spark heated debate.

Activists say, "First of all, we're right, they're wrong, that helps to start out with."

A campaign firm says, "We'll be busy trying to match them dollar for dollar. We think that will be necessary."

LDS Church leaders issued a statement saying the church is simply adding its voice to a broad-based coalition of many who feel strongly about preserving the traditional family.

But opponents argue a repeat of its past involvement would defeat the purpose of a statewide initiative.

"It's not a reflection of the will of the people of California, it's a reflection of the will of the Elders of the Mormon Church."

Financial disclosure forms are due this month.

Supporters say they'll show the LDS Church has donated no money to the initiative.

The only effort thus far, has been the letter sent out by the Area Presidency, which was read in California wardhouses.