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One step too far: NOM’s Ruth Institute is violating federal tax-exempt status

October 6, 2010

NOM Exposed NOM Tour Tracker-California Right-wing Videos

By Adam Bink

A few hours ago I wrote about Jennifer Roback-Morse’s appearance on the NOM California tour. Here’s the video again:

The mistake Jennifer made is that the Ruth Institute is supporting an electoral effort to elect Carly Fiorina. Jennifer sayeth:

We’re very glad to be part of this electoral effort.

And on that, and their involvement thus far, we’re calling them out. The following press release was just sent out by Courage and HRC:

National Organization for Marriage (NOM) Charitable Organization Violates Tax-Exempt Status by Campaigning for Senate Candidate

Ruth Institute, Part of NOM’s Marriage Education Fund, Ignores Laws by Supporting Carly Fiorina in California

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, and the Courage Campaign today called on the National Organization for Marriage, or NOM, to explain why its tax-exempt charitable organization, the Ruth Institute – a project of NOM’s Marriage Education Fund – is violating federal laws by intervening on behalf of a candidate for elected office.

This past Monday, Ruth Institute President Jennifer Roback Morse spoke on behalf of her organization at a campaign stop of the “Vota Tus Valores” bus tour, a NOM-backed independent expenditure in support of California Republican U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina in San Diego. At the campaign event Morse talked about the role of the Ruth Institute, held up the organization’s signage and closed her remarks by saying, “We’re very glad to be part of this electoral effort.” (Watch the Courage Campaign’s video of Morse speaking at event.)

Morse’s campaign appearance followed a NOM-issued press release titled “National Organization for Marriage and Ruth Institute Join Bus Tour Supporting Carly Fiorina in California.” The release states that “Brian Brown, president of NOM, and Jennifer Roback Morse, president of The Ruth Institute, a project of NOM’s Marriage Education Fund, will both be supporting the bus tour as it makes its way around California.” In addition to supporting Fiorina, the NOM charitable group has also illegally participated in a campaign to elect California judges.

Pursuant to the federal tax code, a charitable organization – which is permitted to receive tax deductible contributions – may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates. Violation of this prohibition can result in stiff penalties against the organization and its officials as well as potential revocation of its tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. Federal and state election laws also require such organizations to disclose their campaign expenditures.

“One has to wonder if the Ruth Institute is nothing more than a sham charitable organization designed to use tax-deductible contributions to help secretly fund NOM’s election activities,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “As usual, it’s win at any cost with NOM, which continues to make up the rules, with no regard – and no respect – for federal or state laws.”

“Much as its actions may suggest otherwise, NOM’s radical extremism is not above the law,” said Courage Campaign Chairman and Founder Rick Jacobs. “Instead of secretly funneling charitable resources into political campaigns that attack families, it’s time for NOM to finally come clean—with the public, state elections officials, and the IRS.”

Morse has previously appeared on behalf of the Ruth Institute at events supporting Fiorina. In July, she boasted on the Ruth Institute’s website about appearing at an event announcing a $1 million campaign for Fiorina. Morse also has used the Institute as a front to participate in other illegal electoral activities, including a campaign to elect judges as part of a shadowy group called Better Courts Now. In April, Morse wrote on the Institute’s website that “we hope everyone … will go to Better Courts Now and seriously consider the candidates they have endorsed.”

NOM is fighting campaign finance laws in a number of states, including New York, Washington, California and Maine, where it remains under investigation by the Maine Ethics Commission for failing to register with the state as a ballot question committee and refusing to disclose the donors to its campaign to overturn Maine’s marriage equality law in 2009.

More information on NOM’s activities can be found at www.NOMexposed.com, and below:

“National Organization for Marriage and Ruth Institute Join Bus Tour Supporting Carly Fiorina in California,” NOM website, September 28, 2010
http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=omL2KeN0LzH&b=5075187&ct=8656281&notoc=1

“Latino Values Coalition,” Ruth Institute website, September 30, 2010
http://ruthinstitute.libsyn.com/latino-values-coalition

“Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles,” Ruth Institute website, July 27, 2010
http://www.ruthblog.org/2010/07/27/latino-partnership-for-conservative-principles/

“Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, Founder and President of the Ruth Institute … making her case for Better Courts Now,” Vimeo, undated
http://vimeo.com/8460332

“Better Courts Now,” Ruth Institute website, April 29, 2010
http://www.ruthblog.org/2010/04/29/better-courts-now-2/

Over at Freedom to Marry, Evan Wolfson adds his $0.02 on how much legal trouble NOM is in of late.

One step too far, NOM, and it’s caught up with you.

Twitt

90 Comments Leave a Comment

  • 1. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 6:51 am

    scribing

  • 2. Richard A. Walter (s  |  October 6, 2010 at 6:52 am

    We have all known for some time that NOM and its allies are in violation of several tax-exempt status laws, rules, and regulations. Now that it has been captured on video, they have no way to continue to lie about it, and they deserve to lose their tax-exempt status.

  • 3. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 6:56 am

    And they can attempt to remove that page and say huh huh, we didn't do that…but it's also caught through google…and google would gladly give proof!

  • 4. Jonathan H  |  October 6, 2010 at 6:57 am

    I wonder how they'll respond to this. I'm expecting something in a whine about how they're being forced to obey the law like everyone else. They seem to believe that the rules somehow only apply when it works in their favour.

  • 5. aaron  |  October 6, 2010 at 6:58 am

    I love this! Frauding the IRS is stealing – what a wonderful family value.

  • 6. Sagesse  |  October 6, 2010 at 6:59 am

    Watching with interest :) .

  • 7. jbf  |  October 6, 2010 at 6:59 am

    With this revelation, has the IRS or the Government filed against them? Or is this just a general FYI notice? Seems pretty significant to be just an FYI in my book.

  • 8. Kate  |  October 6, 2010 at 6:59 am

    Remember, tax fraud took down Al Capone, too.

  • 9. Kathleen  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:00 am

    Glad to see Ruth Institute, NOM, et al, called out on this activity.

  • 10. Lightning Baltimore  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:00 am

    "Taxes Laws are for little people" — Leona Helmsley NOM

  • 11. Mark M. (Seattle)  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:01 am

    Let the fun begin! :-)

  • 12. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:01 am

    SBA List, NOM Launch 'Our Values' Latino TV Ad in California U.S. Senate Race

    $200,000 Campaign Highlights Pro-Family Values Carly Fiorina as Latino Choice for California U.S. Senate

    Today, the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) and the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) announced the launch of a $200,000 Spanish television ad campaign highlighting the contrast between California U.S. Senate incumbent Barbara Boxer and challenger Carly Fiorina on sharing Latino family values. The effort coincides with a $100,000 SBA List voter education effort including a Google ad campaign focusing on California Latino voters and a "Vota Tus Valores" bus tour sponsored by SBA List, NOM and the American Principles Project making 43 stops in Latino neighborhoods throughout the state.

    "Pro-life California Latinos are a force to be reckoned with," said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "The majority of Latinos are pro-life and comprise an increasing percentage of the California voting bloc. Latino voters need to know who will stand up for their values in the U.S. Senate and Carly Fiorina is that leader. Barbara Boxer is not. Carly embraces and advances the rights of women and unborn children while Barbara Boxer has consistently undermined them."

    "There could be no greater contrast between Carly Fiorina's commitment to protect Life and Barbara Boxer's continual imposition of a pro-abortion agenda on her constituents. This joint effort will help Latino voters know who really shares their values."

    Here's the script:

    October 7. The script:

    Our values make our people special.

    Work. Family. Children.

    Barbara Boxer doesn't share our values.

    She supports abortion and homosexual marriage…

    …and voted against immigration reform to permit our people to come here legally to work.
    We've had enough of her talk.

    Carly Fiorina for US Senate. Our values. Our senator.

    The National Organization for Marriage and the Susan B. Anthony List are responsible for the content of this advertisement.

    In Spanish, the script will read:

    Nuestros valores hacen a nuestra gente única.

    El trabajo. La familia. Nuestros hijos.

    Barbara Boxer no comparte nuestros valores. Ella apoya el aborto y el matrimonio homosexual, y votó en contra de la reforma de inmigración que permitiría a nuestra gente venir a trabajar legalmente.

    Hemos tenido suficiente de su discurso.

    Carly Fiorina para el Senado de los Estados Unidos.
    Nuestros valores. Nuestra senadora.

    La National Organization for Marriage y la Susan B. Anthony List son responsables por el contenido de este anuncio.

    More: http://www.standardnewswire.com/news/322155628.ht…

  • 13. Lightning Baltimore  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:02 am

    Dang it! messed up my HTML . . .

    "Taxes Laws are for little people" — Leona Helmsley NOM

  • 14. Mark  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:02 am

    Anti-divorce? Good luck when 52% of heterosexual marriages end in divorce.

  • 15. BradK  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:06 am

    A very comforting thought, Kate!

  • 16. Ronnie  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:07 am

    Bring them down to the ground…lying to the IRS…I'm staring to picture NOM (& pretty much the entire anti-gay spectrum) as the greasy Record Executive man from South Park always shouting …"I am above the law"….. X) …Ronnie:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-jXe0x4YdM

  • 17. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:09 am

    GOP rep. wants to defend DOMA in Mass. cases

    Claiming that the Obama Department of Justice is not doing enough to defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) has asked a federal court for permission to serve as an intervenor-defendant in two cases expected to come before the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

    The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) announced Tuesday that it had filed motions on behalf of Smith in the U.S. District Court for Boston, where Judge Joseph Tauro had ruled—in two cases—that one part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional.

    The Department of Justice still has until October 12 and Health and Human Services has until October 18 to give the court notice of whether the federal government intends to appeal those decisions.

    In its motions to intervene October 5, the ADF claims the Department of Justice is mounting “no defense at all” for DOMA. The lawsuits in question challenge only DOMA Section 3 –the section that limits the interpretation of “marriage” for any federal purpose to heterosexual couples.

    more: http://www.keennewsservice.com/2010/10/06/gop-rep…

  • 18. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:10 am

    Hmm…he's got on a brown suit!

  • 19. Straight Ally #3008  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:14 am

    O Schadenfreude, o Schadenfreude….

  • 20. Ann S.  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:17 am

    sub-scribing

  • 21. Alan E  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:19 am

    Ooo I need to get some popcorn for this show!

  • 22. Kathleen  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:19 am

    There are a couple of details in that article which may not be accurate. First, it is the case Gill v. Office of Personnel Management which has the later deadline. Second, the final judgment in the case of Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. HHS was entered Aug 12, so by my calculations, the appeal is due at midnight Oct 11, not Oct 12.

  • 23. Mark M. (Seattle)  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:23 am

    I actually think I'd welcome that. I am very confident in our side winning, and would love to see their side fail again in what is sure to be a VERY well publicized media circus.
    Their arguments are sure to be more of the same used during P vs S, and maybe just maybe the world will get to see just how utterly lame those arguments really are.

  • 24. Kate  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:24 am

    Maybe they'll donate that hardly-used bus to Courage Campaign now that they're done with it. Just think of how snazzy WE could make it look.

  • 25. Mark M. (Seattle)  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:28 am

    Her ya go Alan :-)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK3ZP6frAMc

  • 26. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:28 am

    Sweet revenge: Sending senator Froot Loops

    State Rep. Larry Brown, who referred to gay people as “fruitloops” in an e-mail, may soon have all the Froot Loops he can eat and angry messages to digest.

    For each donation of at least $5, gay-rights group Equality North Carolina plans to deliver a box of the multicolored, super-sugary cereal to Brown’s legislative office. Each box will come with a message to Brown from the donor, reports Lynn Bonner.

    The plan is to take the cereal and the notes to Brown’s office next week, said Ian Palmquist, the group’s executive director. Equality NC intends for the cereal to end up as a food bank donation, but they’ll leave the messages for Brown. He may not be around to accept the cereal because the legislative session is over.

    "It’s a fun way to get the message across that this is not acceptable from a legislator,” Palmquist said. In two hours’ time after the fundraiser was announced, the group had raised more than $2,000, he said.

    Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/06/17435…

  • 27. Mark M. (Seattle)  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:30 am

    LOVE IT!!!

  • 28. Kate  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:31 am

    Empty all the boxes into his office!

  • 29. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:32 am

    International
    Baja California moves to ban recognition of same-sex marriages

    The unicameral Chamber of Deputies of the Mexican state of Baja California, where Tijuana is located, voted 18-1 on Sept. 29 to amend the state constitution to prohibit recognition of same-sex marriages.

    Same-sex marriage is legal in Mexico City, and the nation's Supreme Court ruled this year that all 31 Mexican states must recognize gay marriages from the capital city.

    As a result, the state legislature's move could set it on a collision course with the federal Supreme Court, although some amendment backers claimed they only want to prevent gay marriages from taking place in Baja.

    More: http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=4…

  • 30. Mark M. (Seattle)  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:33 am

    But absolutely NO MILK for him!!!

  • 31. Ronnie  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:35 am

    I like Fruit Loops…..mmmmmmm….NOM NOM NOM NOM…. ; ) …Ronnie

  • 32. AndrewPDX  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:36 am

    The easiest way to sum up this post: NOM got Pwned!

    Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
    Andrew

  • 33. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:53 am

    SMACKDOWN: Lies In “The Truth About GLSEN’s School Climate Report” from Anti-Gays

    The mounting number of youth who have committed suicide after relentless bullying this week is staggering; the number of kids who are still experiencing that bullying is even more staggering. Most of us have taken this opportunity to try to comfort each other and our kids, and provide our community with hope that it won’t always be like this. Some people, though, would prefer to take this opportunity to tear down the organizations working on the problem, and argue that they’re probably making the problem itself up as an inscrutable move in the Radical Gay Agenda Takeover Plan. Thanks, Candi Cushman! You may remember her from Focus on the Family’s campaign AGAINST ANTI-BULLYING CAMPAIGNS. Because, you know, homosexuality! We wanted to share the pleasure of reading this article along to others, but wanted to add a little commentary of our own just in case you missed some of the nuances. Please enjoy this selection of Cushman’s insightful observations with some considered critique.

    More: http://www.autostraddle.com/smackdown-lies-in-the…

  • 34. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 7:58 am

    Spot on Wayne Bessen!

    The Religious Right’s Violent Bully Pulpit

    Earlier this week, Boyd K. Packer, president of the Mormon Church's Quorum of Twelve Apostles, gave a sermon that endorsed discrimination against gay people and claimed that they could be converted into heterosexuals.

    Conveniently, Packer failed to point out that the keynote speaker at the Mormon "ex-gay" group Evergreen's September conference was John Paulk – the supposedly cured family man that I photographed in a Washington, DC gay bar in 2000.

    No matter how many millions of dollars religious organizations squander on this fatal fantasy, or how loudly they preach this destructive lie – there is no evidence that one can pray away the gay. The idea that millions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people will abandon rich, satisfying lives to become "ex-gay" is equal parts propaganda and pipedream.

    Given the fact that LGBT people exist and are not going anywhere, the Religious Right has two choices:

    1) It can accept that LGBT people are on a trajectory to be embraced by mainstream society

    2) Or, it can suppress this rapidly growing trend through intimidation and violence

    In the past year, I believe, the LGBT movement has reached a tipping point, where there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. Polls are in favor of equal rights and widespread acceptance is seeping into nearly every sphere of society.

    Anti-gay activists see the writing on the wall and are reacting rabidly by spewing unprecedented amounts of biblical bile. The attitude of these extremists can be summed up by The Call's Lou Engle, who said at an anti-gay seminar in Lynchburg, Va., earlier this year, that without a Godly intercession, the LGBT movement would win.

    More: http://www.fcnp.com/commentary/national/7497-the-…

  • 35. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:09 am

    Christian group pulls support for event challenging homosexuality

    CNN's Dan Gilgoff filed this report:

    A national Christian organization will stop sponsoring an annual event that encourages school students to "counter the promotion of homosexual behavior" because the event has become too divisive and confrontational, the group's president told CNN on Wednesday.

    "All the recent attention to bullying helped us realize that we need to equip kids to live out biblical tolerance and grace while treating their neighbors as they'd like to be treated, whether they agree with them or not," said Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International, the group that sponsored the event this year.

    Called the Day of Truth, the annual April event has been pushed by influential conservative Christian groups as a way to counter to the annual Day of Silence, an event promoted by gay rights advocates to highlight threats against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

    The Day of Truth, held on the same day as the Day of Silence, "was established to counter the promotion of homosexual behavior and to express an opposing viewpoint from a Christian perspective," according to a manual for this year's event published by Exodus International.

    On the Day of Silence, students take a "a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in their schools," according to a web site run by the event's sponsor, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

    More: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/06/christia…

  • 36. BradK  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:10 am

    Because Mexico has nothing else to be concerned with at the moment.

    I wonder if our friends north of the border have anything to do with this?

  • 37. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:18 am

    Oh my, I can't post some of this (I have this disease and I cannot use any curse words) but Dan Savage does a very good job answering a letter from a listener.

    SL Letter of the Day: Almost Sorry
    http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/10…

  • 38. fiona64  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:20 am

    Exodus International is a big ol' "ex-gay" ministry.

    That's a huge admission from them …

    Love,
    Fiona

  • 39. fiona64  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:21 am

    This response was *brilliant.* I read it the other day, and couldn't agree more with Savage's response.

    Love,
    Fiona

  • 40. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:21 am

    A Statement from the Jewish Standard

    We set off a firestorm last week by publishing a same-sex couple’s announcement of their intent to marry. Given the tenor of the times, we did not expect the volume of comments we have received, many of them against our decision to run the announcement, but many supportive as well.

    A group of rabbis has reached out to us and conveyed the deep sensitivities within the traditional/Orthodox community to this issue. Our subsequent discussions with representatives from that community have made us aware that publication of the announcement caused pain and consternation, and we apologize for any pain we may have caused.

    The Jewish Standard has always striven to draw the community together, rather than drive its many segments apart. We have decided, therefore, since this is such a divisive issue, not to run such announcements in the future.

    Rest of it: http://www.jstandard.com/index.php/content/item/a…

  • 41. BradK  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:27 am

    As much as it feels good to gloat over NOM’s impending day of reckoning, we shouldn’t lose sight of their goals and the long term damage they’ve already wrought. Even if the IRS and the various state election commissions eventually get around to exposing NOM’s shady fundraising, what’s the most that would happen? They get fined? No problem, the Mormons will just write another check to cover it. When was the last time that someone went to jail for improper raising or allocation of funds in a non-profit? (This is a serious question – does anyone know if this sort of thing has indeed resulted in incarceration?). It’s not like embezzlement. Though these ultra-lux bus tours that accomplish nothing certainly smack of self-serving aggrandizement.

    Even in an extreme case were NOM is completely shut down, it still couldn’t undo the election results they’ve already subverted. Maine’s Prop 1 will still be standing. State constitutions across this land will still be defaced with NOM-enabled hate. And this election cycle will be long over before any action is taken. NH’s Gov. Lynch will still have to confront NOM’s well financed attempt to unseat him. Same goes for the three Iowa State Supreme Court justices.

    Worst of all, no enforcement actions could bring back the young lives that were recently lost due directly to the social poison spread by NOM, along with their sugar daddies in the Cult of Mormon and the Holy Roman Empire. The very best we can hope for is to put an end to it for the benefit of the future.

  • 42. Gregory in SLC  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:36 am

    I wasn't going to reply this time just enjoy all you creative people expressing, analyzing, criticizing, celebrating…but the "absolutely no milk for him:" got me, thanks Mark I needed to laugh! :D

    Thank you all for information, conviction AND entertainment!

  • 43. Gregory in SLC  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:37 am

    me 2 :)

  • 44. Mark M. (Seattle)  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:39 am

    Big Hugs Gregory :-)

  • 45. Alan E.  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:39 am

    What about the retention votes for judges in Iowa? Is that considered political, too?

    Here is an article form OneNewsNow where half the article is quotes from Maggie:
    http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?i…

  • 46. Gregory in SLC  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:40 am

    as Elizabeth says "Back at you!!" (sincerely, I need the love I get at this website, thx Mark et all!)

  • 47. Alan E.  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:41 am

    This would be an appellate-level case. Would they have standing?

  • 48. elliom  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:42 am

    Is there some way we could get the boxes donated through Food for Thought?

  • 49. Kathleen  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:45 am

    The people I've asked about this say they likely would. Apparently there's precedent for members of Congress being allowed to defend laws passed by Congress when the Executive branch won't. Can't name any of the cases, but I've heard rumors. :)

    Btw, the question of Article III standing doesn't just come up in appellate cases. It applies in the district courts, as well.

  • 50. Alan E.  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:49 am

    Using that logic, then why wouldn't the people who passed the legislation be allowed to defend Prop 8?

  • 51. Anonygrl  |  October 6, 2010 at 8:54 am

    I bet they just couldn't figure out a way to publicize their event that didn't scream "GO AHEAD! WE APPROVE OF BULLYING FAGS! LETS CONVINCE THEM ALL TO KILL THEMSELVES!!" which was pointed out to them as not the most effective way of proceeding… so they backed off.

    They tried to push the Day of Truth as a counter to the promotion of homosexual behavior, but they could not even convince their own constituency that the Day of Silence was about anything more than ending the harassment and bullying in the light of the recent suicides, so they just gave up.

    They will be hard at work the following day making up for lost time, never you fear.

  • 52. Kathleen  |  October 6, 2010 at 9:01 am

    To me, the primary distinction is that legislators, unlike proponents of an initiative, are elected by the people to represent them in their government.

  • 53. Gregory in SLC  |  October 6, 2010 at 9:02 am

    Amen!! I can testify to that as an EX-EXODUS and EX-EVERGREEN person :(

  • 54. Rhie  |  October 6, 2010 at 9:10 am

    subscribin

  • 55. Leo  |  October 6, 2010 at 9:12 am

    <cite>Apparently there’s precedent for members of Congress being allowed to defend laws passed by Congress when the Executive branch won’t.</cite>

    What if the Executive branch will? Can the Rep still intervene because he thinks the administration is not doing a good job?

  • 56. Ronnie  |  October 6, 2010 at 9:15 am

    Time for a song….<3…Ronnie:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFZJMIIxhbA

  • 57. Alan E.  |  October 6, 2010 at 9:18 am

    I would say "no" @Leo because then you would have to have another case to determine whether the Feds or the intervenors have a better case, and the best way to do that is within the realm of the original case. That would create a mess in the court system.

  • 58. Kathleen  |  October 6, 2010 at 9:21 am

    That would be up to the court. But it would no longer be a question of standing.

    Once the named defendant initiates the appeal there is the requisite case or controversy for the appeal to go forward. It would then be up to the court to decide whether or not to allow another party to enter as appellant-intervenor. I don't know what case law there might be as to the circumstances that would allow it.

  • 59. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 9:26 am

    Another victim of Bullying: 12-year-old Holly Stucky
    http://lezgetreal.com/2010/10/twelve-year-old-hol…

  • 60. Seraphiel  |  October 6, 2010 at 9:39 am

    I am confused.

    She says she supports "traditional marriage," but we don't even know how many goats her husband traded to buy her from her father.

    We also don't have a good explanation for why she is out on the road talking in public, instead of staying at home and raising children silently like some religious texts say "traditional marriage" is supposed to be.

    What is up with that?

  • 61. Straight Ally #3008  |  October 6, 2010 at 10:14 am

    I can't wait for Engle to be caught with a rentboy, and then make a Jimmy Swaggart-like apology in that Macho Man Randy Savage voice of his.

  • 62. Phil L  |  October 6, 2010 at 11:30 am

    He didn't have to trade any goats because that was only useful when trading for human women. Why would he trade several of his goats to receive one inferior goat (obviously Maggie) in return?

  • 63. Phil L  |  October 6, 2010 at 11:31 am

    AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

    I'm sorry (or not) but the Charlie Brown scream just seems appropriate!

  • 64. Tomato  |  October 6, 2010 at 11:35 am

    Throw the Jewish gays under the bus?
    If they will not run the gay marriage announcements, they should not run straight marriage announcements, either. Seeing straight announcements reminds the other portions of the Jewish community that their deep sensitivities have been trampled, their temples and congregations are less valuable, and causes THEM pain and consternation.

  • 65. Tomato  |  October 6, 2010 at 11:40 am

    What kind of environment are we creating for our children that a child could be tormented at AGE TWELVE for not knowing "enough" about f*cking? TWELVE!!!!!!

  • 66. Tomato  |  October 6, 2010 at 11:42 am

    Her husband is Hindu. Do they require a bride-price like traditional Christians?

    Why hasn't she converted to Hinduism like a good wife should? Doesn't the bible say a woman must obey the gods of her husband?

    Why doesn't Maggie Gallagher take the last name, Srivastav, of her Hindu husband? Why doesn't she wear a wedding ring?

  • 67. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 11:46 am

    I am wondering if all 24 people regused were gay, or gay supporters. If the church denied them for just supporting the gay community, I think the church needs to lose their 501c(3) (or whatever they get) status.

    Gay Activists Denied Communion at Catholic College Mass by Archbishop Nienstedt

    On Sunday, September 26, 2010, during Holy Mass at St. John's Abbey on the campus of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, 24 people were refused Holy Communion by Archbishop John Nienstedt of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. They were displaying rainbow buttons and rainbow sashes in direct defiance of the direction of the Diocese and thereby clearly expressing their rejection of the teaching of the Catholic Church. Anyone who comes forward to receive the Holy Eucharist is professing to be in Communion with the Church. That means they accept her moral teaching. This open show of defiance in the context of the Mass was encouraged by a group calling itself calling itself "People Representing the Sexual Minority (PRiSM).

    More: http://www.catholic.org/college/story.php?id=3859…

  • 68. Lesbians Love Boies  |  October 6, 2010 at 11:56 am

    UPDATE:

    N.J. Jewish newspaper says it overreacted in rescinding first same-sex wedding announcement

    After enduring "a firestorm" of criticism from all factions of Judaism, New Jersey’s oldest Jewish newspaper announced today it overreacted in printing and then rescinding its first published same-sex wedding announcement.

    "We did not expect the heated response we got. We believe now that we may have acted too quickly in … responding to one segment of the community," said New Jersey Jewish Standard publisher James Janoff, in a statement issued on the website of the weekly paper, based in Teaneck.
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    Janoff said he is now discussing how to handle such announcements with rabbis and community leaders in Bergen County, where the paper has most of its readership. Janoff, who would not return calls for additional comment, urged his readers "to take a step back and reflect on what this series of events has taught us about the community we care so much about."

    The issue arose Friday, when the 79-year-old nondenominational paper ran a small unpaid story announcing the upcoming nuptials of Avichai Smolen, 23, of New Milford, and Justin Rosen of Coram, N.Y.

    More: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/njs_olde…

  • 69. cc  |  October 6, 2010 at 12:09 pm

    Hmm, sounds exactly like them!

  • 70. cc  |  October 6, 2010 at 12:16 pm

    Somehow or another the Catholic Church forgot about the teachings of Jesus.

  • 71. Tomato  |  October 6, 2010 at 12:23 pm

    Ruth and Naomi were lesbians. I'd like to see the Ruth Institute called out for going against the Word of God in the Book of Ruth. http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.org/biblical_ev…

  • 72. adambink  |  October 6, 2010 at 12:25 pm

    Saw this. Kind of like the Brooklyn Dodgers rescinding their decision to sign Jackie Robinson because it divided their fan base. Like same-sex marriage is the only topic that divides people in the Jewish community. "2 people, 3 opinions"

  • 73. Bob  |  October 6, 2010 at 12:27 pm

    I have the same issues with my chuch , I called them on it, the Holy Eucharist or Communion is symbol of god's table, all are welcome, The Catholic Church, and others, i.e. thos believing in inerrancy of scripture, place the priest in the position of gatekeeper, deciding who is worthy, this is true bunk, Jesus welcomes everyone,

    In the Anglican Mass the priest says all are welcome not matter who you are or where you find yourself on your journey of faith all are welcome.

    PRISM is doing a great job of exposing this hypocracy, and misuse of a right.

  • 74. Bob  |  October 6, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    RIP Holly, another to the list JonT, we are inclusive after all, we don't stop at borders, hate/love are universal like the hearts of the humans that contain them, what will eminate from your heart, and what efforts will you take to help love flourish.?

  • 75. Michael  |  October 6, 2010 at 2:08 pm

    The shrill anti-gay activists at NOM not only think they (heterosexuals) are better than us (law-abiding, taxpaying, gay Americans), but they also think they are above the law and allowed to lie in order to promote the evil anti-gay agenda. Jesus does not give them special rights and neither should our government. They should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Of course, they will howl and scream how they are "victims," but it will send a strong message that no one in America is above the law.

  • 76. Carpool Cookie  |  October 6, 2010 at 4:06 pm

    "“All the recent attention to bullying helped us realize that we need to equip kids to live out biblical tolerance and grace while treating their neighbors as they’d like to be treated, whether they agree with them or not,” said Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International, the group that sponsored the event this year."

    Well…that's nice.

    They've screwed up a lot of youth on both sides with that event in the past….but at least this year it won't be ramping up hatred and despair even higher.

  • 77. Carpool Cookie  |  October 6, 2010 at 4:07 pm

    I added to that thread as Gal Friday. Also introduced the word "Christianist", to differentiate from other Christians….some of whom we adore.

  • 78. Carpool Cookie  |  October 6, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    Can't quite fathom how a same sex wedding announcement caused "pain" in the community.

    Maybe someone needs to see a therapist?? I'm sure if the pained ones all go together, they can get a good group rate.

    Please! "Pain"?

  • 79. Elizabeth Oakes  |  October 6, 2010 at 4:43 pm

    Well….maybe because they weren't invited?

  • 80. Tomato  |  October 6, 2010 at 11:05 pm

    They forgot 17 centuries ago when they created a religion worshipping the love of power rather than the love of God.

  • 81. Tomato  |  October 6, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    "Lying for the Lord."

    Machiavellian "christians."

  • 82. Sagesse  |  October 6, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    @Tomato

    Superbly well said. We can't understand the motivation of religious leaders until we understand the intersection of power, money and faith.

  • 83. Hank (NYC)  |  October 7, 2010 at 12:30 am

    When are people going to realize there are multiple truths. We all live by many different and sometimes conflicting truths. And that is wonderful, creative and allows for the thriving nation we have.

    It sads me that no matter how many court cases NOM loses there never seems to be any repercussions. They continue to do what they do regardless of laws, rules etc. We never hear of NOM releasing the donors to the courts when they loose. Nothing – silence. Our courts can't even get them to comply with the law.

    It takes forever for the IRS to do anything, if they ever do. Maybe if everyone sent that email to the Fed IRS they would actually take some notice.

    These things are very disheartening. They have placed themselves above the laws of the land everywhere. And nothing happens to them. WTF!!

  • 84. fiona64  |  October 7, 2010 at 1:38 am

    MCC's Communion is similar: "All are welcome here, for communion is for the community. This is the feast of God, and none will be turned away."

    Love,
    Fiona

  • 85. Seraphiel  |  October 7, 2010 at 3:33 am

    Anyone who comes forward to receive the Holy Eucharist is professing to be in Communion with the Church. That means they accept her moral teaching.

    Apparently anyone who thinks raping children is bad is also in defiance of the Church's "moral" teachings.

    If they keep this up, the only people allowed to take communion at all anymore will be sexual predators.

  • 86. Ann S.  |  October 7, 2010 at 3:37 am

    It seems very odd that wearing a rainbow button can be someone in defiance of the Church's moral teachings. Are rainbow buttons immoral? Is advocating for a change in the Church's teachings immoral? Not in my world, but their world is not my world, apparently.

  • 87. Anonygrl  |  October 7, 2010 at 3:56 am

    LLB, I disagree with you on this one. They should have no governmental repercussions for this particular bit of church business.

    While we might think it rather idiotic, it is ENTIRELY UP TO THE CHURCH who they serve communion to. If they only want to serve rich, right handed, white men above the age of 50, that is entirely up to them. We do not want the govermnent to interfere in this sort of issue. Freedom of religion.

    That being said, it is unfortunate that the church seems to want to turn away its own members, and I feel for those who wish to participate and are turned away, but it is the church. They can administer sacraments as they see fit.

    I would suggest those people who are offended either petition the church for a change in practices, or find a different church that is more supportive of them.

  • 88. Bob  |  October 7, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    PRISM is brilliant, and the're actions speak loudly, in a very silent way they make the issue visible inside the Church, I would hope this movement conitnues.

    I also appreciated reading about Harry Knox and his role in the presidents Faith Based Initiatives Program, apparently he is pro gay and speaks out against the Catholic Church, I like to hear the Presidents Program is doing something behind the scenes. Wish they would be more vocal.

    I don't think the goal in these actions is to get gov't involved, but to continually work at exposing the poblem. This activity has been happening in many Catholic Churches, it makes people in the pews THINK and question what they see.

    they're action is a petition to the church. see the power of the rainbow.

    and while I'm on this I want to mention another action, which I read on a previous thread, regarding a pastors response to the speach (forget if it was mormon or cahtolic, anyway it is on dvd, and circulating to all the churches) it was followed by a blog, where a nun was asking people to send those tapes to her monastry, where the artist in residence who wants to turn them into a piece of art,

    these are demonstrations by people inside their chruches, who choose to stay and be visible, rather than vacate, WOOT WOOT to all those that hold their ground and find ways to express themelves, church could be a place for challengng beleifs, it makes it more alive and exciting.

  • 89. Lookie lookie, guess who&&hellip  |  October 8, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    [...] I wrote about how NOM’s Ruth Institute is violating federal tax laws by openly supporting a candidate for [...]

  • 90. New  |  October 11, 2010 at 1:55 am

    Hello Kathleen –

    GLAD’s executive director, Lee Swislow, said an appeal of the DOMA cases is “really in our interest” because a victory only at the district court level would “only affect our particular plaintiffs” and not anyone else.
    http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/10/07/will-ob…

    Do you guys agree with Swislow's statement “only affect our particular plaintiffs” ?

    If that's the case I lose hope on receiveing federal benefits anytime soon. :(

    Thanks.

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