Class action lawsuit over tithing

[HappierNow]

From the Salt Lake Tribune: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2024/07 ... r-tithing/

[moksha]

Since that article is for subscribers only, could you give us a synopsis?

[MoPag]

Since that article is for subscribers only, could you give us a synopsis?

They are rolling a bunch of smaller tithing lawsuits into one big tithing lawsuit. They are going to argue that the church misled members about what the money was being used for. I hope it works. I know we would all love a refund on all the $$$ we gave them.

[Angel]

The legal system seems to be faltering. A scary thing when laws are not enforced for the wealthy, prisons are filled with the innocent, judges are bribed, juries intimidated.

I think a certain political party - perhaps all political parties, have corrupted the system.

Religious groups - from tax evasion to political manipulation, lies about "charity", it is sickening what all religious groups do. Until the population has an unaffiliated majority - it might require all religious organizations falling before any single group can be taken down. To attack "tithes" of one group is to attack them all. Mormons might be a good group to start with, least popular.

[wtfluff]

Since that article is for subscribers only, could you give us a synopsis?

https://web.archive.org/web/20240721001 ... r-tithing/

[Hagoth]

They are going to argue that the church misled members about what the money was being used for.

Which is absolutely true. We'll see how much power state has over church (or truth has over manipulation). I'm not optimistic.

[moksha]

I understand that class action suits nationwide have been transferred to the Utah Courts where the Church has undisputed influence.

In the past judges have dismissed cases rather than risk the wrath of the Church and Utah Citizens. Even if a case goes to trial, Utah juries have their peculiarities (they are after all a peculiar people) such as finding both former criminal Republican Attorneys General innocent despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary.

The Saints are a Trumpian people.

[Hagoth]

I understand that class action suits nationwide have been transferred to the Utah Courts where the Church has undisputed influence.

In the past judges have dismissed cases rather than risk the wrath of the Church and Utah Citizens. Even if a case goes to trial, Utah juries have their peculiarities (they are after all a peculiar people) such as finding both former criminal Republican Attorneys General innocent despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary.

The Saints are a Trumpian people.

It seems like a win against the church would set a precedent that could landslide into something truly epic, not just for Mormonism but for other churches as well. Although I would love to see churches held accountable for their behaviors I'm tired of being disappointed. Even Scientology managed to slime their way out of accountability by adding a cross to their logo and temporarily acting more churchy.

[moksha]

I watched a Mormon News video in which Bill, RFM, and Rebecca Biblioteca had no qualms about the Utah judge assigned to the case, so I hope everything goes by the merits of the evidence. One potential wild card they did mention is our current Supreme Court issuing a ruling that financial chicanery is covered under religious freedom.