IRS Harasses Liberal Church

The Internal Revenue Service has warned one of Southern California's largest and most liberal churches that it is at risk of losing its tax-exempt status because of an antiwar sermon two days before the 2004 presidential election.

Rector J. Edwin Bacon of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena told many congregants during morning services Sunday that a guest sermon by the church's former rector, the Rev. George F. Regas, on Oct. 31, 2004, had prompted a letter from the IRS.

In his sermon, Regas, who from the pulpit opposed both the Vietnam War and 1991's Gulf War, imagined Jesus participating in a political debate with then-candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry. Regas said that "good people of profound faith" could vote for either man, and did not tell parishioners whom to support.

This is unbelievable, given the churches that have openly opposed liberal politicians from the pulpit:

From the Denver Post

Bishop Michael J. Sheridan, who heads the Colorado Springs Diocese,...wrote to those in his diocese and urged them not to vote for abortion-rights candidates in the November election, including Sen. John Kerry for president and Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar for U.S. Senate. Further, he suggested any Catholic who did so should be denied Holy Communion.

From The Washington Post

Members of the small East Waynesville Baptist Church say (Pastor) Chandler led an effort to kick out congregants who did not support President Bush. Nine members were voted out at a Monday church meeting in this mountain town about 120 miles west of Charlotte. Forty others in the 400-member congregation resigned in protest.

From The Yurica Report

David Barton, deputy chairman of the Texas Republican Party, [spoke] at Eugene's Willamette Christian Center. Reporters for the Register-Guard and the Eugene Weekly were not allowed in, and had to be content to interview those who attended as they walked to the parking lot after the noon luncheon talk. I also could not get in. but gained insights from one of the church representatives who described the occasion for me afterward.

The IRS seems to be specifically and exclusively harassing liberal churches. It's become an enforcer for the GOP. More and more, every government office is becoming an arm of the Republican Party. Scary.