Churches and Partisan Politicking

The IRS, which has investigated 200 organizations nationwide, has warned tax-exempt groups to stay neutral on politics. Yesterday, members of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California told their pastor to defy IRS subpoenas based on an anti-war sermon two days before the last presidential election. Today, United for the Separation of Church and State, which wants churches in eight key states to help register voters for November's elections, warned churches to beware of partisan politicking that could affect their tax-exempt status.