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Church voting guide draws complaint Social Justice Alliance says churches violate tax exemption by distributing Oregon Family Council's election publication By DANI DODGE The Social Justice Alliance of Josephine County has filed a formal complaint with the IRS against churches that distribute the Oregon Family Council's "Voter's Guide." To maintain their tax-exempt status, churches are prohibited from participating in political campaigns on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidates for public office. The complaint alleges two Grants Pass churches as well as others in Jackson County and the rest of the state are violating their tax-exempt status by distributing the guides that outline candidates' views on social and economic issues. "People talk politics at churches, there's no doubt about that, but we are trying to show the line has been crossed," said Dave Toler of the Social Justice Alliance. "The line is that this guide is generated from outside the church by a political action committee ... and they are purposefully and intentionally biased." Tim Nashif, political director of the Oregon Family Council, said the guide is not partisan. They even have an attorney review it to make sure, he said. "For 22 years we've been doing it the identical way and never had a problem," Nashif said. "I think that Oregon Family Council itself is clearly partisan. I don't think the voter guide is partisan. To be partisan it would tell people how to vote. We don't tell anyone how to vote." Nashif suggested that state Rep. Cherryl Walker is behind the complaint. Walker is being challenged for her position in District 4 by Dennis Richardson, a candidate supported by Oregon Family Council because of his anti-abortion stance. "Normally, something like this filed just before the election is a campaign tactic," Nashif said. Walker, though, said she heard about the complaint only Wednesday - the day Toler mailed it to the IRS. The Oregon Family Council distributes its voter guide to conservative Christian individuals and about 1,800 churches in Oregon, including 115 in Jackson and Josephine counties. The guide lists candidates' positions on issues including abortion, gay rights, school vouchers and the kicker. When a candidate does not fill out the group's questionnaire, OFC will sometimes specify who endorses the candidate, or list their votes on abortion-related issues. Pastors who distribute the guide say it is a valuable tool to guide voters. At the 300-member Joy Christian Fellowship in Medford, the guides are left out for church members to pick up, said the church's pastor Steve Schmelzer. "By having a voters' guide where the questions are asked clarifying the issues, we get the information we need ... that allows us to be more informed as voters," said Schmelzer. "I have many people thank me for making these guides available." He noted that the guide would help those who believe in abortion rights as well those who oppose abortion. But Toler contends in his complaint that several things make the guide "clearly partisan," including a built-in bias because OFC openly supports Richardson, and an "unfair summary of candidate's voting record" in regard to Walker. Although the brochure correctly states her positions on bills, it emphasizes portions of the bills that did not represent her reasons for supporting and opposing them. Toler said the bills they selected are not necessarily an accurate reflection of Walker's overall views. "The PAC has every right to do everything they did in that guide. What can't happen that I think is very, very, very clear, is a (tax-exempt) church cannot take that and distribute it in their church," Toler said. "I think if most Oregonians knew about this, they will be upset because it crosses the line." IRS spokeswoman Shawn George said the IRS reviews complaints such as Toler's, although they do not typically reveal whether they investigate the complaints or find violations. "It is possible that a church or tax-exempt status organization can lose its tax-exempt status, although that doesn't happen very often," she said. "Sometimes, they require corrections (of the situation)." But Nashif predicted nothing would come of the complaint. "It's a freedom of speech issue," he said. "It won't go anywhere." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail ddodge@mailtribune.com |
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