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AU Complains To IRS About Church's Endorsement of Gubernatorial Candidate

By Howard M. Friedman

Americans United announced yesterday that it has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether Richmond, Virginia's Fifth Street Baptist Church violated tax rules relating to non-profits by endorsing a gubernatorial candidate. AU wrote the IRS (full text of letter) calling its attention to a Washington Post article indicating that the church's pastor allowed candidate Brian Moran to speak during church services on June 7, just before the primary election. Some 50 parishioners were in attendance. Rev. F. Todd Gray told the congregation that Moran had the right policy on guns, affirmative action, taxes and jobs. He then added: "I'm not telling you who to vote for. I'm just telling you who I'm voting for. I'm voting for Brian Moran." The candidate was apparently invited to the church by one of its members, Evelyn Morris-Harris, chairwoman of the Democratic Black Caucus of Virginia.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 09, 2009 (boomark / email).