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The New York Times editorial board today endorsed an investigation of whether the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints violated campaign finance laws with its enthusiastic support of Proposition 8 to roll back same-sex marriage in California.

"Based on the facts that have come out so far, the state is right to look into whether the church broke state laws by failing to report campaign-related expenditures...Churches, which risk their tax-exempt status if they endorse candidates, have more leeway in referendum campaigns. Still, when they enter the political fray, they have the same obligation to follow the rules that nonreligious groups do."

The California Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating the role of the Mormon church in the campaign in response to a complaint from Californians Against Hate, an organization supporting same-sex marriage, alleging that the Mormon church failed to report non-monetary contributions to the campaign.