The IRS is threatening to revoke the tax exempt status of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California because the priest there delivered an anti-war sermon shortly before the November election. Critics of the action point out that the sermon was critical of both President Bush and Senator Kerry. Is the Bush Administration using the IRS to silence anti-war critics? Or is the Bush Administration using the IRS to build support for a new law – opposed by mainline churches but supported by the Religious Right – that would allow congregations to engage in partisan political activity?
The Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance, is concerned there is more than one reason behind the IRS action. His office released a statement yesterday reading:
"The Interfaith Alliance reaffirms our commitment to the IRS guidelines forbidding houses of worship to endorse political candidates. However, having read the sermon delivered by the Rev. Dr. George Regas on October 31, 2004, I see in it no violation of those guidelines. Dr. Regas was exercising the responsibility of all religious leaders to evaluate moral issues from the perspective of their respective religious traditions.
“The Interfaith Alliance is investigating why the IRS challenged this particular sermon and why the IRS issued a warning about the sermon at this particular moment. Knowing the Religious Right's passion for advancing H.R. 235, a piece of legislation which, if passed, would change the IRS guidelines to allow for endorsements of candidates for electoral offices from the pulpit and thus fundamentally damage the historic constitutional wall separating the institutions of religion and government. I must confess cynicism about whether or not this challenge at this time is meant to build support for the advancement and passage of this dangerous legislation."
Visit the web site for All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California where you can read the sermon in question, the letter from the IRS, and the congregation’s response.
