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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) is notoriously secretive about the inner workings of its ruling hierarchy, the First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles. With an estimated annual income in the billions and assets in the tens of billions, the church does not release financial statements to its members or the general public. The meetings and decision-making processes of the Mormon leaders are similarly undisclosed.
That changed Sunday when a group called Mormon Leaks posted more than a dozen videos to YouTube, containing briefing sessions with the hierarchy. The briefings were apparently recorded "live" and include candid comments and discussion from the apostles in attendance. The leak appeared to be timed to coincide with the church's semi-annual conference that took place over the weekend.
Ironically, one of the briefings discusses WikiLeaks and the possibility of a similar leak targeting the church, but the apostles shown in the video appear to more concerned about Chelsea (nee Bradley) Manning's sexuality than they are about threats to their own secrets.
One briefing that is particularly troubling was given by a former U.S. senator from Oregon, Gordon H. Smith. Smith, a member of the church, admits that he values obedience to the hierarchy and loyalty to the church more than he does his office. He also describes using his office and staff to gain political favors for the church, and justifies the Iraq War by claiming that it will allow Mormon missionaries access to Middle Eastern nations. At one point (around the 26 minute mark), Smith possibly reveals classified information to the group, or at least his willingness to do so.
The videos appear to come from the same whistle blower who leaked a trove of church documents on-line about a week ago. Those documents are here and the leaker has announced that many more are coming.
(Score: 2) by fliptop on Tuesday October 04 2016, @05:14PM
My church regularly makes this information available, both for the church itself and the elementary school it's associated w/. I'm not sure if it's online but anyone can get it just by calling the church office. Additionally, when they have events (like a steak fry) they always let everyone know how much was brought in. All Mass collections are posted in the bulletin the following week.
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
(Score: 2) by ledow on Tuesday October 04 2016, @07:35PM
Meanwhile, other (and quite possibly the same) churches (as in religious base, rather than individual building) were found to have numbered Swiss bank accounts with millions in them.
Just because your single church might be upfront, it doesn't mean your RELIGION or the rest of the churches associated with that same organisation are.
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Tuesday October 04 2016, @07:40PM
If your church is specifically associated with precisely one elementary school, then it is clearly not the kind of "large, well-established, religion" that is being discussed, and your protest makes me wonder about either your reading skills, or what you are hiding. (The wonder is just that, "a pause for contemplation of", so don't take it too seriously except as a criticism of your rhetoric style.)
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.