What's ahead now that James Huntsman's lawsuit against the LDS Church over tithing has been revived.
alleging fraud by top church elders over their spending of wealth built from members’ tithing, more surprises are probably coming.
A Latter-day Saint legal analyst with an outsider’s eye on church affairs believes that’s a likely move, given what could come after that — discovery of more evidence by both sides in advance of a trial., a tax law professor at Loyola University Chicago, “but Huntsman would also ask the church about financial stuff that the church is recalcitrant to share.
There also remains a chance the case could be settled out of court at some point as it proceeds. The court record so far shows ample evidence that Huntsman and lawyers for the church sought to work out their disputes before the initial lawsuit was launched. Church President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke in General Conference in April 2003 about how the church paid for the City Creek Center shopping development in downtown Salt Lake City.
They upheld Wilson’s decision to wipe away another major strand in Huntsman’s lawsuit: church spending from its tithing-related reserves on another commercial venture, Beneficial Life, a church-owned insurance company. Korman, in his dissent, questioned why Huntsman’s lawsuit was filed in the Golden State, given that the Utah native moved there in October 2020 and filed his case “less than five months later.” The church, the judge continued, is a corporation organized and operating under Utah law.Huntsman made tithing donations in at least three states before he stopped giving in 2015 and resigned his membership in 2020, according to court records.
While statements from other church leaders mentioned in Huntsman’s lawsuit also said no tithing would be used, those were “unqualified,” the judges wrote. “Only President Hinckley’s 2003 statement was arguably hedged.” Though only a few new financial numbers were released against church wishes, they are all big-dollar items, to be sure.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Mormon Land’: Is ‘Barbie’ an allegory of Mother Eve in LDS theology?On this week's 'Mormon Land' podcast, Exponent II editor-in-chief Rachel Rueckert discusses the 'Barbie' movie and what messages it contains for Latter-day Saint women and men.
Read more »
Pope says Church open to everyone, including gay people, but has rulesPope Francis says the Catholic Church is open to everyone, including the LGBTQ community, and that it has a duty to accompany them on a personal path of spirituality but within the framework of its rules.
Read more »
Man baptizes himself while robbing church, felt ‘something’ holding his head below water: policeA man robbing a church claimed to have felt 'something' holding his head down under the water in the baptistry pool. The suspect used a cinder block to break into the church, causing significant damage and stealing electronics and money.
Read more »
Woman Refuses to Leave St. Adalbert's Church over Removal of Stained Glass WindowsA woman was removed from a historical Pilsen church Tuesday after refusing to leave the property and confronting workers who were allegedly removing stained glass windows.
Read more »
Georgia Man Accused of Breaking into Florida Church, Stealing Electronics and Baptizing HimselfA Georgia man is facing charges after allegedly breaking into a church in Panama City Beach, Florida, vandalizing the interior, stealing electronics, and then baptizing himself. The suspect, Derek Porter, reportedly used a cinderblock to smash a window and gain entry into the church. A woman who was working at the church managed to escape to safety when she heard the glass break. The Bay County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident.
Read more »