IRS Closes Its Investigation of Pasadena Church But Says Speech Was Still Illegal

On Sunday, two days before the 2004 presidential election, a former pastor told Pasadena’s All Saints Episcopal Church that “good people of profound faith” could support either President Bush or Senator Kerry. But he also said that Jesus would have told Mr. Bush that the preemptive war in Iraq “has led to disaster.” Six months later, the IRS told All Saints that its tax-exempt status was in danger. Yesterday, the current pastor, Edwin Bacon, told the congregation the investigation is over.