Mormon Church’s human rights complaint rejected by European judges

Telegraph ^ | March 4, 2014 | Hayley Dixon

[greyfoxx39]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a religious organisation registered as a private unlimited company in the UK, was told in 2005 that it was not exempt from paying business tax on its temple in Preston, Lancashire.

Because the public were not allowed access to the temple, which was reserved for the most devout Mormons, the High Court dismissed their appeal in July 2008.

However, the church refused to accept the decision, claiming that it amounted to discrimination on religious grounds and taking their battle all the way to Strasbourg.

Now the European Court of Human Rights has upheld the ruling of the British courts.

-SNIP-

Only the most devout members of the church, who hold a "recommend" status, are entitled to enter the temples.

The House of Lords ruled that the Preston temple was not qualified as a "place of public religious worship" since access was restricted to this select group.

[greyfoxx39]

This is a seperate legal case against the mormon church in Britain from the following:

A British magistrate has issued an extraordinary summons to the worldwide leader of the Mormon church alleging that its teachings about mankind amount to fraud.

In order to enter a mormon temple, members MUST answer the following questions:

TEMPLE RECOMMEND QUESTIONS

1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?

2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

5 Do you live the law of chastity?

6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

10 Are you a full-tithe payer?

11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

12 Do you have financial or other oblgations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:

Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?

14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?

15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?

[greyfoxx39]

Ping

[Jim Robinson]

Don’t give Obama any ideas. Could be a lucrative source of new tax revenue.

[Tennessee Nana]

[Tennessee Nana]

[Pollster1]

I’m not LDS but I hope they win this one. It’s a question of what is right, and discriminating against good people because of their church rules is a terrible idea.

[JoeProBono]

[humblegunner]

Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment

Don't laugh, UnderArmour is a big business.

[greyfoxx39]

Don’t give Obama any ideas. Could be a lucrative source of new tax revenue.

This will happen right after all the 401 accounts are confiscated by the IRS.

I'm confident that Valarie is currently working on an executive order in ObamaCare aimed at adding a requirement for religious tax exemptions to be done away with.

They are just waiting until after the November election.

[Tennessee Nana]

[Tennessee Nana]

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Only the most devout members of the church, who hold a “recommend” status, are entitled to enter the temples. “

I see that only the most devout members hold this status and can enter the mormonic temples. Do you have a temple recommend teppe?

If you do not, I’m not sure I can discuss this with you. It is restricted information.

[greyfoxx39]

It’s a question of what is right, and discriminating against good people because of their church rules is a terrible idea.

So, do you think it is right to discriminate against church members who do not pay a "full tithe" which is required in order to take part in the arcane mormon temple rituals which are necessary to gain "exaltation" (the mormon term for salvation)?

Only 15% of mormons currently are "worthy" of entering these temples...the rest are doomed to eternity in "lower" kingdoms in mormon doctrine. No salvation for them.

[Tennessee Nana]

[colorcountry]

Not always that I agree with the courts. This is one of those times.

Other religions and their properties are open to all (at least that I can think of). This is as it should be.

[Tennessee Nana]

part of the worldwide Mormon church,
_____________________________________

the Worldwide Church of Mormon ???

[Morgana]

JOE!!!

“DEWEY CHETEM & HOWE” LOLOLOL

[Pollster1]

So, do you think it is right to discriminate against church members who do not pay a "full tithe" which is required in order to take part in the arcane mormon temple rituals which are necessary to gain "exaltation" (the mormon term for salvation)?

Whether I think their rules are right is irrelevant. LDS is a real religion, and they are good neighbors. It is not the place of a mere government to judge them.