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Tonight I watched 8: A Mormon Proposition. It's a movie that I feel that all Mormons should see, just as if my religious/spiritual beliefs were affiliated with any existing organization, I should be held responsible for seeing the most well-known and well-constructed videos about the negative things that it is responsible for.
It illustrated the problem with the church's -all church's- tax-exempt status. Donating even a penny of the church's coffers to -any- matter that in any way effects any state or local constitution or any other matter of governmental related matter should immediately remove that church's status, not only as tax-exempt, but even as a church.
You can see this quality in so many of the people as they talk. There is this look in their eyes, the tone of their voice. It's not normal passion and it's not normal conviction. It is this proclamation of complete, unfettered certainty, certainly a type of mania that is produced only by believing without a shadow of doubt that there is an almighty deity that is 100% on your side.
That look is not the look of evil. It is the look that allows evil to exist. If I did not already believe that religion is so often responsible for a form of brain-washing, then this would do it.
Here is one thing that I would really like to discuss: If bullies are convicted when their victims commit suicide, then should homophobic churches be held responsible as well? Should the church treasury be fined, and perhaps even the higher ups be incarcerated? Should bigoted hate speech receive all of the same protections under the law, or should it be filed under harassment instead of freedom of speech?

My answer to all those questions can be summed up in three words: Yes. They. Should.