Creepy Police State

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- The Internal Revenue Service has warned a prominent liberal church it could lose its tax-exempt status because of an anti-war sermon a guest preacher gave on the eve of the 2004 presidential election, church officials say.

The Rev. George F. Regas did not urge parishioners at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena to support either President Bush or John Kerry, but he was critical of the Iraq war and Bush's tax cuts.

The IRS warned the church in June that its tax-exempt status was in jeopardy because such organizations are prohibited from intervening in political campaigns and elections.

So: Catholics denying pro-choice politicians communion? Fine and dandy. Criticizing dear leader? Achtung!

And before someone tells me about how churches have a right to deal with their members, please, please tell me why it was only Democratic senators who were denied communion, only for their views on abortion? Why not, for example, pro-death penalty, pro-war Republicans? Last I checked, the Vatican was pretty clear on it's views on the death penalty and illegal, unjust wars too.