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."
An IRS spokesperson declined comment on the investigation.
In a sermon two days before the 2004 election, Regas did
not urge parishioners to support President Bush or challenger
John Kerry but was critical of the Iraq war and Bush's tax
cuts, Bacon said in an interview last November when the
investigation was announced.
"He explicitly said, 'I am not telling you how to
vote.' That is the golden boundary we did not cross," he
said.
All Saints has a long history of social activism, dating
back to World War II, when its rector spoke out against the
internment of Japanese Americans. Regas, who headed the church
for 28 years before retiring in 1995, was well-known for
opposing the Vietnam War, championing female clergy and
supporting gays and lesbians in the church.
The IRS has revoked a church's charitable designation at
least once. A church in Binghamton, N.Y., lost its status
after running advertisements against Bill Clinton's candidacy
before the 1992 presidential election.
