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Wiley Drake's Church Cleared of IRS Campaign Violations

By Howard M. Friedman

California Southern Baptist pastor Wiley Drake has been cleared by the IRS of charges that his Buena Park First Southern Baptist Church violated tax code restrictions on non-profit organizations by endorsing Mike Huckabee in the Republican presidential primary this year. According to yesterday's ABP News, at issue were an e-mailed endorsement written on church letterhead and an endorsement made on an Internet radio program broadcast from church property. The IRS concluded, however, that Drake made the endorsements in his personal capacity, and not on behalf of the church. (Full text of IRS May 12 letter.) Melissa Rogers, reporting on these developments, indicates that the original complaint against Drake was filed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Subsequently Drake called for Imprecatory Prayer against AU leaders. (See prior related posting.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 21, 2008 (boomark / email).