This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints defended itself Friday against year-old allegations - recently renewed by the controversial comments of a John McCain campaign worker - that the church had helped fund Hamas terrorists.
LDS officials in Salt Lake City said their church had indeed sent money to an Islamic charity - but strictly for humanitarian and disaster relief work and through a reputable organization.
In the wake of the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami that devastated coastal communities throughout southeast Asia, the LDS church announced it had sent $1.6 million worth of emergency supplies to areas affected by the tsunami through Islamic Relief USA.
In an April meeting of Republican activists, the Warren County, Iowa, chairman of McCain's campaign attacked rival presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a Mormon, in comments that included a discussion of an article alleging the LDS Church helps fund Hamas, according to The Boston Globe.
It's unclear what article Chad Workman was referring to when he made his comments, but an August, 2006, blog entry by conservative political commentator and self-proclaimed expert on "radical Islam" Debbie Schlussel claimed Mormons were "the new financiers of Islamic terrorism."
The blog post cited the LDS church's $1.6 million gift to Islamic Relief - the umbrella organization of which had come under increased scrutiny in recent years - as proof, but neglected to mention the purpose for the donation, or the fact that it was made predominantly in the form of relief items such as clothing, blankets, infant formula and medical supplies.
"In each case, representatives of the Church accompanied the shipments and oversaw distribution," the LDS Church said in a statement.
In fact, Islamic Relief USA spokesman Mostafa Mahboob said the LDS Church's donations to his organization have exceeded $20 million over the past three years, making it the single-biggest donating entity in the United States.
Mahboob praised the Salt Lake City-based church for its efforts to help suffering people worldwide.
Mahboob said his organization initially ignored the Schlussel allegations last fall and lamented that her words had been given new life when repeated by Workman and reported by the Globe.
"Her opinions were just right-wing accusations," Mahboob said. "And so it was surprising that it surfaced again."
He noted that Islamic Relief USA is an autonomous organization with oversight over how its donations to Islamic Relief Worldwide are appropriated.
"We are very clean," he said. "And we are very proud that our accounting is transparent. We don't have any wrongful actions and we are not under any kind of investigation."
The Buena Park, Calif., charity consistently has been graded as a four-star charity, the highest rating possible, by nonprofit watchdog charitynavigator.org.
LDS church officials did not immediately respond to questions regarding other Islamic charities it donates to.
During a visit to Utah in March following allegations of other anti-Mormon comments of his supporters, McCain said he would confront anyone who attacks his rivals based upon their religion.
"There is no place in American life for that, much less politics," McCain said. "I condemn it. And if anyone is identified to me as engaging in it, I will personally confront them."
McCain's campaign said Thursday it had apologized to Romney for the Workman comments.