WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com)

    The Internal Revenue Service issued an advisory on Wednesday, warning churches and charities against engaging in political activity or risk losing their tax-exempt status.

    Such groups, organized under section 501(c)3 of the tax code, don't pay federal taxes, but are prohibited from supporting or opposing any candidate for public office. The IRS has expanded its definition of the law to include efforts to register voters. Citing that ruling, Barry Lynn, executive director of the liberal Americans for Separation of Church and State, asked the IRS in April to investigate the current activities of Jerry Falwell Ministries. Falwell has published plans to conduct a similar registration drive this year, Lynn said.

    ASCS has also asked the IRS to investigate the activities of the Rev. Floyd Flake, a former Democratic member of Congress, for allegedly endorsing Democratic candidate Al Gore for president at New York's Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church early this year.

    The Wednesday advisory signalled that the IRS is also likely to crack down on churches that distribute voter guides that profile candidates based on the issues they support or oppose.

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