Update Re: Accusation that Church Disclosed Tithing Donors to OUR

[smac97]

In this thread we discussed recent allegations that the Church (that is, some of its senior leaders) passed on the names of wealthy tithing donors to Operation Underground Railroad.  Bluebell wisely commented: "Some posters have suggested that we wait to see if this accusation has any merit or evidence to support it before just assuming it's correct."

Today, in the Tribune: 

Senior Latter-day Saint apostle ‘never released tithing records,’ church states
Utah prosecutor says “there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation” that apostle M. Russell Ballard had shared such financial information with Operation Underground Railroad.

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A senior apostle with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “has never released tithing records to Operation Underground Railroad or any other organization,” a church spokesperson said Monday.

This denial comes in response to allegations — included in a new filing in a lawsuit against OUR and the group’s founder, Tim Ballard — that Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings told OUR attorneys he had “evidence” that senior apostle M. Russell Ballard and/or other “church authorities” had provided the records to help the nonprofit anti-sex-trafficking organization target large donors or wealthy Latter-day Saint congregations.

Rawlings and the church initially declined to comment on the accusation.

When contacted Monday, however, Rawlings told The Salt Lake Tribune that “when Davis County closed its investigation [of OUR], there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation of Elder Ballard’s role with respect to LDS tithing records.”

And, in its latest statement from spokesperson Doug Andersen, the church emphasized that it “regards tithing records as sacred and keeps them confidential.”

I am shocked - shocked! - to find that a risible accusation against the Church has turned out to be false / unsubstantiated / misguided.

As for prosecutors bluffing about "evidence," I am shocked at that too.

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Social media platforms have been abuzz in recent days about the allegation that an apostle would give out private financial information about members of the global faith of 17 million.

“If Elder Ballard felt good in his decision to share big tithing payers to OUR,” one person commented on X, formerly Twitter, “then what other higher-ups are feeling good about sharing with other organizations or people?”

Boy, sometimes I think social media is making us dumber.  The competitive aspect of it makes people more credulous than they ought to be.  They rush to post or comment on any rumor that comes out, regardless as to whether it has been tested / verified / substantiated.  

Some folks(quite a few, actually) hedged their bets ("If this is true..."), but here is a sampling of additional comments from Twitter/X of people presupposing the allegation to be true:

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Jacob 🏳️‍🌈🇹🇭🐧🌻@seagulljaap Nov 3
The tithing bit is almost unbelievable... How on earth did they think that was okay?

Ryan Hawley@ryanisms Nov 3
It's all so crazy and right on par, too.

KLundy @kwlundeberg Nov 3
Oh, you better damn well believe I’m using that ward list that is thumb tacked next to my parents phone to solicit their neighbors to donate to my kids soccer fundraiser. The gloves are coming off.

Paul J Elliott @PaulJElliott Nov 4
These modern-day Gadianton Robbers have infiltrated and corrupted the Church.

Sid @DarthCydiouss Nov 6
If Elder Ballard felt good in his decision to share big tithing payers to OUR, then what other higher ups are feeling good about sharing with other organizations or people..?

Just Joe 🎃@planetJoseph Nov 6
Important here to remember that Ballard was an investor in the for-profit arm of OUR, so using church data to potentially enrich themselves is pure corruption. No doubt they view themselves as owners of that data to use for pet projects and personal wealth building. 

RADmom @rad_mom_ Nov 3
This is absolutely crazy. I don’t understand how any active and believing number could justify this in their mind.

Back to the article:

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Best practices for nonprofits “is to have a formal donor privacy policy,” said Sam Brunson, a Loyola University Chicago tax law professor. “It can be explicit or opt-in.”

Many nonprofits “sell or rent their donor lists,” said Brunson, who is a Latter-day Saint. “I don’t love the idea of the church sharing donation information. It feels inappropriate. But … I don’t recall the church ever explicitly saying it will protect donor privacy.”

Now that this article has been published, Brunson can't say that anymore.

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The Utah-based faith’s General Handbook suggests that such a policy exists.

“The amount of tithing and other offerings paid by a donor is confidential,” the guidebook for all church leaders states. “Only the bishop and those who are authorized to handle or view these contributions should have access to this information.”

Church leaders, it adds, are to “ensure that such data is not used for personal, political, or commercial purposes.”

Huh.  I wish I had thought to look in the Handbook.  But not really, as the allegation was so out-of-character for the Church that I did not lend it much credence or consideration.

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In the faith’s most recent General Conference, apostle Neil L. Andersen said “sacred tithes do not belong to leaders of the church. They belong to the Lord” and are spent on missionary work, temples, church schools, chapels and to help those in need.

“The spiritual power of the divine law of tithing is not measured by the amount of money contributed, for both the prosperous and the poor are commanded by the Lord to contribute 10% of their income,” he said. “The power comes from placing our trust in the Lord.”

Andersen shared a quote from former church President Gordon B. Hinckley’s father about tithing: “What the authorities of the church do with it need not concern [you, Gordon]. They are answerable to the Lord, who will require an accounting at their hands.”

Today’s top church leaders, Andersen assured, “deeply feel the weight of being ‘answerable to the Lord.’”

I get that feeling from them.

See also here (Deseret News) : Church did not provide tithing records to Tim Ballard, Operation Underground Railroad, spokesman says

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded Monday to allegations made last week in a lawsuit against Operation Underground Railroad founder Tim Ballard.

In an amended complaint filed Thursday, the lawsuit by five women who accused Tim Ballard of sexual assault suggested that church leaders may have shared tithing records with him and Operation Underground Railroad.

The church denied the allegation.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regards tithing records as sacred and keeps them confidential,” church spokesman Doug Andersen said.

The complaint said Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings told Operation Underground Railroad attorneys that President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, or other church authorities had provided the tithing records to help Tim Ballard raise money. (The two men are not related.)

“President Ballard has never released tithing records to Operation Underground Railroad or any other organization,” the church spokesman said.

Church policy prohibits the release of tithing records, according to the church’s General Handbook.

“The amount of tithing and other offerings paid by a donor is confidential,” according to the policy guide for church leaders and members. “Only the bishop and those who are authorized to handle or view these contributions should have access to this information.”

The handbook states that when it comes to financial or membership records, “leaders and clerks are to safeguard church records by handling, storing and disposing of them in a way that protects the privacy of individuals.”

It adds, “Leaders ensure that such data is not used for personal, political or commercial purposes.”

Thanks,

-Smac

Edited November 7, 2023 by smac97