| June 1, 2004 Vol.5, No.11:
|
IRS May Investigate Catholic Diocese Political Communications
A charity watchdog group has asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate and possibly revoke the tax-exempt status of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs.
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU) sent a letter to the IRS stating that the diocese in Colorado Springs had crossed the partisan electioneering line. Organizations exempt from taxes under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are forbidden to support or oppose any candidate for office. Bishop Michael Sheridan wrote in a Catholic newspaper in May that Catholics should not receive communion if they vote for politicians who disagree with the church by backing abortion rights and other topics.
AU Executive Director Rev. Barry Lynn said, "By issuing this document in a church publication in his official capacity as head of a religious organization, Bishop Sheridan may have violated federal tax law and jeopardized the tax-exempt status of the Diocese."
See Denver Post article.