IRS drops investigation of church over sermon

All Saint's Church hears IRS news. (Phot, LA Times.)

In an important First Amendment case, the IRS has dropped its attempt to rescind the non-profit status of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California, over a sermon delivered by a former rector in 2004 in which he was critical of the war in Iraq and of President Bush's tax cuts.

Parish leaders are confused, however, by the IRS letter closing the case, in which the IRS holds -- still -- that the sermon was illegal.

The church wants a clarification -- and an apology.

This is only church's most recent tussle with the government -- it has a long history of social activism, dating back to World War II, when it's then-rector preached against the internment of Japanese-Americans and the theft of their property by official government action.

I'm glad for them they won they fight.

I'm not holding my breath on the apology.

Plainfield connection: Former Plainfield residents Debby (costumer of the stars) and Jerry (you've seen him in many, many commercials) Lancaster are members of All Saints Church.

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• LA Times: "Pasadena church wants apology from IRS"
• CBS News: "IRS Grants Church Absolution Over Sermon"
• Paul Caron's TaxProf Blog: "IRS Drops Investigation" -- Complete links to all coverage.
  

-- Dan Damon

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