RELIGIOUS PRACTICE

A Church's Perspective On Enforcement Of The Political Campaign Proscription

A presentation to the Exempt Organizations Committee of the American Bar Association meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 18, 2008

by the Reverend J. Edwin Bacon, Jr., Rector, All Saints Church, Pasadena, California

Thank you for inviting me to tell a bit of the story of All Saints Episcopal Church, Pasadena, California and what our perspective on the IRS investigation of us has been and continues to be.

It is important for you to hear from me what it means to "practice religion" at All Saints both in theological theory and in everyday expression of that theology. I also want to share with you something of the passion that we have experienced around the IRS case, including the determination to stay our course in protecting our religious practices which we see as clearly in alignment with the IRS proscription against campaign intervention. In the last part of my presentation I want to share something of the profound sense of offense and anger we feel to this day and that is felt by at least 500 new members who joined our church in an innovative category of membership called, "Solidarity Members."

First, both a theological and practical description of what it means for us to practice our religion...

Read more HERE.