IRS Going After Political Activity in Southern California Church

The tax laws are pretty specific about the prohibition of political activity in churches (though strangely the IRS never seems to be bothered by Democrats openly campaigning in black churches). An Episcopal church in Pasadena is in the crosshairs of an IRS investigation over political activity by the priest in the days leading up to the 2004 election:

The Internal Revenue Service has ordered a prominent liberal church to turn over documents and e-mails it produced during the 2004 election year that contain references to political candidates.

The IRS is investigating whether All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena violated the federal tax code when its former rector, Rev. George F. Regas, delivered an anti-war sermon on the eve of the last presidential election.

Tax-exempt organizations are barred from intervening in political campaigns and elections, and the church could lose its tax-exempt status.

Rev. Ed Bacon received a summons Thursday ordering the church to present any politically charged sermons, newsletters and electronic communications by Sept 29.

Bacon was ordered to testify before IRS officials Oct. 11. He said he will inform his roughly 3,500 congregants about the investigation at Sunday's services, and will seek their advice on whether to comply.

"There is a lot at stake here," Bacon said. "If the IRS prevails, it will have a chilling effect on the practice of religion in America."

I beg to differ, Rev. Bacon. Had the church been practicing religion instead of politics you wouldn't have this problem.

I'm all for keeping politics out of the church, and especially banning the type of political speeches and fundraising that we see from the Dems every election cycle. There isn't a Sunday that goes by in the later stages of the campaign when you won't see a Dem candidate in an ethnic church somewhere giving his stemwinder speech and passing the hat for money. That kind of political activity in churches is specifically banned by IRS regulation, but is rarely if ever prosecuted.

If churches want to invite candidates to speak to their congregations and pass the plate to raise funds for the candidate or party, then they should be equally willing to waive their non-profit status. That's the law, and I would like to see it equally enforced.