November 9, 2006 | Read Time: 1 minute
Left-leaning Christian groups are increasingly challenging their conservative Christian counterparts over the meaning of the expression “values voter,” which emerged as an integral part of President Bush’s re-election in 2004, says the National Journal (October 28).
The clash comes amid increased scrutiny by the Internal Revenue Service of partisan political activity among tax-exempt nonprofit groups. The IRS has logged more than 140 complaints accusing nonprofit groups of illegal electioneering this year, and is pursuing 60 of them, the article says.
Religious groups on both sides of the political divide are increasingly issuing voter guides, which can be a source of controversy.
The liberal group Catholics for a Free Choice filed an IRS complaint against the voting guide issued in 2004 by the conservative nonprofit group Catholic Answers. The IRS is still investigating the complaint. This year, Catholic Answers formed a separate unit to release a voter’s guide and established the unit as a lobbying organization so it would not be constrained by the same restrictions as charities.
Catholics for a Free Choice argues that the two groups are so “intertwined” that this year’s guide also violates federal rules. Catholic Answers says that since the guide does not name particular candidates, it is not in violation. A spokesman for the group also charges that the IRS, by investigating concerns of groups like Catholics Answers, is aiding “people who are hostile to involvement of people of faith in the political process.”
