The judge rejects the lawsuit against the Mormon Church on how to use it for donations

Federal judge on Thursday Reject He claimed that the Church of Jesus Christ for the last days offended the use of hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations by investing it instead of using it for the sake Charitable purposes.

American provincial judge, Robert Shelby, said that a law for three years of statute of limitations for fraud claims in Utah was issued before the lawsuit was filed in October 2023. The judge also said that the plaintiffs had failed to show how any fraud occurred.

Bringing the legal procedure from a group of donors to the Church renewed a renewed scrutiny over how faith is widely known as the Mormon Church deals with its extensive financial property. These holdings are strengthened by the so -called “tithe” members of the Church who contribute 10 % of their income.

The lawsuit has been directed to business entities under the church, which does not publicly reveal details about its financial resources. Prosecutors’ lawyers wanted an independent entity to oversee the donated money. They also sought to obtain a classroom certificate that could bring millions of church members to the case.

Church spokesman, Sam Benrod, said that the decimal donations are “an expression of faith” that allows her to fulfill her mission.

“These donations are used carefully and wisely managed, under the supervision of the church leader,” Pinerod said in a statement sent via e -mail. “Legal allegations against the Church have been rejected by the court.”

Prosecutor Christopher Sager’s lawyer said the chapter will make it difficult for church members to understand how to use donations.

“For decades, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ contributed to the last days of 10 % of their acquired income, and they have the right to know how to use these donations,” Sigger said.

A similar lawsuit was filed in a federal court in California in 2021 by James Huntsman, former Utah state governor John Huntsman Junior, who was seeking to return 5 million dollars he donated before leaving the church. The Court of Appeal in the ninth American circle in January upheld a judgment on the minimum court Aside.

In the case in the lawsuits, whether the church investments in stocks, bonds, real estate and agriculture reflect the desires of the donors.

The US Securities and Stock Exchange Committee has been fined The church and the ravie sub -company $ 5 million in February 2023 to use Shell companies to hide the size of the investment portfolio under church control. The church agreed to pay one million dollars and will pay the Ensign Peak $ 4 million.

The Church had previously defended how to address the contributions of the members, describing the requirements of fraud as unfounded from saying, and says that the contributions go to a variety of religious purposes, including missionary work, education, humanitarian reasons, building churches, temples, and other important buildings in the church works.