SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – California officials are investigating whether the Mormon church gave an accurate accounting of its role in the campaign that succeeded in getting the same-sex marriage ban approved in the state.

The Fair Political Practices Commission of California said Nov. 24 it will investigate allegations that the Mormon church did not report nonmonetary contributions to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. Included in the investigation are commercials, out-of-state phone banks and a Web site sponsored by the church.

The action by the FPPC came in response to a complaint filed Nov. 13 by gay rights activist Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate.

In his complaint, Karger accuses the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of failing to report the value of the work it did to support Proposition 8.

Roman Porter, the FPPC’s executive director, said Nov. 24 that the decision to open an investigation does not mean staff members have determined there was any wrongdoing, only that Karger’s complaint merits further inquiry.

“This is a huge victory,” Karger said. “Of course it’s a two-step process. They are innocent until proven guilty, but I’m happy the state of California’s political watchdog is proceeding with this investigation.”

The complaint says the church failed to report money invested to organize phone banks, send out direct mailers, provide transportation to California, mobilize a speakers bureau, send out satellite simulcasts and develop Web sites as commercials and video broadcasts.

According to Karger, who organized Californians Against Hate to track donations to the Yes on 8 campaign, the Mormon church organized out-of-state phone banks in Idaho and Utah to educate voters about Proposition 8 and solicit donations. Karger said a Web site affiliated with the church produced more than 13 videos and commercials designed to be shared and forwarded among Internet users.

“[The Mormon church’s] position has shifted 180 degrees; they’ve gone from saying they’ve reported everything and worked with California and their attorneys to report all expenditures, to saying they don’t need to report expenditures – only their members do,” Karger said. “It will be interesting to see if the FPCC gets to see all of their records and if they will be forthcoming.”

In a statement provided to the Gay & Lesbian Times on Tuesday, spokeswoman Kim Farah said church officials had received a copy of the complaint and the Salt Lake City-based church has complied with all campaign finance laws and is confident an investigation will prove that.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has received a copy of the complaint filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission,” Farah said. “We will be sending information to the FPPC and believe that any investigation will confirm the Church’s compliance with applicable law.”

Karger also notified the attorneys general of California and Utah, where the Mormon church is headquartered.

“Let’s be transparent here. If they are going to play in the political process, they need to abide by the rules like everyone else,” he said.

The New York Times weighed in on the issue in an editorial published on Nov. 29 saying 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.

“Mormons were a major force behind the ballot measure,” the editorial stated. “Individual church members contributed millions of dollars and acted as campaign foot soldiers.”

The church itself also played an unusually large role. Michael R. Otterson, the managing director of public affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said that while the church speaks out on other issues, like abortion, “we don’t get involved to the degree we did on this,” the publication reported.

In October, the church reported making an in-kind donation of $2,078.97 to the coalition of faith organizations and conservative groups that sponsored Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that overturned the state Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage. It’s the only donation listed under the church’s name in support of the measure.

Based on in-kind contributions reported by other religious groups, Karger estimates that the Mormon church actually spent hundreds of thousands of dollars backing the marriage ban.

If the commission finds that the church violated state reporting laws, it could impose penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and sue for additional amounts.

Many members of the GLBT community view Mormon votes and dollars as the deciding factor behind the passage of Proposition 102 in Arizona and Proposition 8 in California.

Proposition 102 amends the Arizona Constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman and maintains the current statutory laws that ban gay marriage in Arizona. Proposition 8 amended the California Constitution in a similar way and nullified a state Supreme Court ruling that allowed gay marriage.

Mormons contributed about $3 million of the $8 million raised in the “Yes on 102’’ campaign to amend the Arizona Constitution.

Community members and organizers spread word of Friday night’s vigil through the Internet and by word of mouth.

Protesters holding candles, rainbow flags, peace signs and banners with the words love, acceptance and harmony gathered Friday night at a park in support of same-sex marriage rights.

Many counter-protesters said their rights as a voter would be violated if the recent Nov. 4 decision were to be overturned.

Protesters, Mormon church members and Proposition 102 supporters alike said they respected the opposing side’s stance and lifestyle but for now must agree to strongly disagree.