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Advocacy Blog
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Interesting Case on Whether A Church Violated Campaign Finance Law
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church v. Unswort, a challenge to Montana's election campaign reporting laws. The Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church held an event in May 2004, and during which the Rev. B.G. Stumberg urged parishioners to sign petitions at the church in support of a constitutional ban on gay marriages. Advocates filed a complaint arguing that the church inappropriately held an event to support a political cause subject to the state's political contribution reporting requirements. The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices had previously ruled that the church should have reported its activities to get voters to pass a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
Reportedly; "Lawyers for the church filed a lawsuit in federal court, arguing the parishioners' rights to free speech and religious expression under the First and Fourteenth amendments were being trampled by the 'vague' and 'ambiguous' election laws."
Posted by Amanda Adams
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