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Advocacy Blog
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Miami Church Says Probe Politically Motivated
From CQ Mid-day Update: "A Florida church is discovering that life in a political battleground state sometimes means new fights arise even after an election recedes into memory. The IRS has notified Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Liberty City that it is being investigated for holding "political activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status as a church,"
according to the Miami Herald. The probe is related to an appearance last October by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and several black leaders, including Rep. Kendrick B. Meek, D-Fla., the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Federal tax law prohibits churches from participating in political campaigns. Church officials said Kerry's visit was part of a regular church service, and it did not break the law. It is not clear whose complaint triggered the IRS investigation, according to the paper".
Rev. Gaston Smith said visits by political candidates are nothing new, and that the 75-year-old church did not violate U.S. tax code, as suggested in the letter. He has hired former U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis to defend the church in the inquiry.
Read the IRS letter
Check out the Miami Herald Article
Posted by Jennifer Lowe
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