IRS Delivers Warning To Ohio Pastors Mixing In Politics

[liberal N proud]

Commissioner Wants To Put End To Illegal Political Campaigning

POSTED: 6:27 pm EST February 24, 2006

CLEVELAND -- The IRS Friday sent a warning to Ohio pastors who are crossing the line from preaching to politics.

IRS Commissioner Mark Everson came to Cleveland to deliver the warning about the crackdown, reported investigator Ron Regan.

This announcement came just a week after a 5 On Your Investigation into two Ohio groups accused of mixing politics and preaching.

5 On Your Side went inside a meeting of a group called Restoration Ohio, led by a Columbus pastor.

The group insists it doesn't endorse candidates, only educates voters. On this day, it gave an award to Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell for his support on banning gay marriage.

Another group comprised of 31 Ohio pastors believes Restoration Ohio is breaking the law, and has asked the IRS to investigate.

"They crossed the line and they're not acting as a church, in my mind. They're acting more like a political organization to elect a single candidate," said the Rev. Eric Williams.
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/7413510/detail.html?subid=10101081

[dflprincess]

1. Perhaps the IRS would like to go after the ArchDiocese of St Paul

It distributed postcards to the parishes to give to their members to send to the legislature supporting an amendment to the state Constitution that would define marriage as only between a man and a woman.