Church: Anti-war sermon imperils tax status

[TomClash]

Officials say IRS has warned church over pre-election message

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- The Internal Revenue Service has warned a prominent liberal church it could lose its tax-exempt status because of an anti-war sermon a guest preacher gave on the eve of the 2004 presidential election, church officials say.

The Rev. George F. Regas did not urge parishioners at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena to support either President Bush or John Kerry, but he was critical of the Iraq war and Bush's tax cuts.

The IRS warned the church in June that its tax-exempt status was in jeopardy because such organizations are prohibited from intervening in political campaigns and elections.

The church's rector, J. Edwin Bacon, told his congregation about the problem Sunday.

"It's important for everyone to understand that the IRS concerns are not supported by the facts," Bacon said.

Bacon later said he chose Sunday to inform the congregation because Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu was in attendance and because he believes a decision from the IRS is imminent.

:wtf:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/07/antiwar.sermon.ap/index.html

[ClintonTyree]

1. It's on the Greatest Page.......

and was posted several times yesterday. I made the same mistake of posting it yesterday afternoon and was firmly rebuked. Dupe, many times over. ;)

[still_one]

2. how come nothing is being said by more blatant actions

from the likes of farwell, dobson, or even many Catholic parishes who during the 2004 campaign indicated that a person who voted for a candidate that supported choice was in sin?

[TomClash]

3. Please delete

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Then, by extension, doesn't this anti-war/tax exemption threat put the

Quakers on notice?

Get real!

Not to mention the pro-war stance of Jerry Falwell and his ilk.

[maddezmom]

5. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1906247