Group files complaint church over Bachmann appearance

(AP) - A watchdog group filed a complaint with the IRS Tuesday against a Minnesota church, claiming the pastor violated the church's tax-exempt status by endorsing GOP congressional candidate Michele Bachmann Saturday night.

An official from the church, Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park, said Tuesday that the pastor "misunderstood IRS guidelines" and promised it wouldn't happen again. But the watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said it would not rescind the complaint.

Bachmann, who is running against Democrat Patty Wetterling in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, told parishioners at the church on Saturday that God had called on her to run for Congress, according to a video of her appearance posted on YouTube by "Dump Bachmann Blog." She also said that God is now specifically focused on her race.

When he introduced Bachmann, Pastor Mac Hammond said that the church could not endorse any candidate. "But I can tell you, personally, that I'm going to vote for Michele Bachmann," he said to laughter and cheering, "because I've come to know her, what she stands for, and I want her to share her testimony with you tonight."

Under federal tax law, church officials can legally discuss politics, but to retain tax-exempt status, they cannot endorse candidates or parties in their official capacity.

According to a fact sheet put out by the IRS to help churches and other charitable organizations maintain their tax-exempt status, "leaders cannot make partisan comments in official organization publications or at official functions of the organization."

LSB: On a similar note, GOP on a Mission to Save Santorum: According to the LA Times, “Across Pennsylvania, pastors are preparing to stuff voter guides into their Sunday bulletins.” I’d like to believe that the IRS will investigate and revoke the tax-exempt status of any religious organization that are promotes one party over the other from the pulpits, but I have little faith (no pun intended) that is going to happen.