Or was he donning the hat of a politician and therefore protected by another set of rules?

And what about the mosques, synagogues and churches where hatred toward others is preached, advocated or even tolerated? Why are these institutions granted refuge under tax-exempt laws?

In the case of All Saints Episcopal Church, they are being singled out, and it is obvious. The truth is, I can't imagine a church being a church, without it championing peace and justice. I can't even imagine a clergyman, whether priest, minister, rabbi or imam, who can dare to stand in the sight of God and not preach peace and work for a world without war. I can't imagine this because I can't imagine Jesus standing for anything that would denigrate the sanctity of life.

Since our country was founded, issues of freedom, justice, peace and humanitarian duty have all been debated in the pulpits, in the pews and the forums established by the religious community. Run the course of history to the present and you will see the same for every time we have been confronted with challenges that touch the core of our liberty as a nation. Imagine where Civil Rights would be had it not been for Martin Luther King who leaned on his faith to build a movement for equality.

Today, the Church must continue with the same zeal and enthusiasm to be an advocate for the poor and the oppressed, to lead the way to justice and peace. If the government is set on stifling the Church's voice, it must have the courage to continue even at the cost of losing its nonprofit privileges. We hope that it will not come to this and so, we all need to accept the All Saints battle as our own. All Saints, their ministry and congregation are in our prayers.

FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

The government is so far off sides in this controversy that no court could possibly dare call the Pasadena church for a penalty -- at least not with the protection of the Constitution in mind. This government action is frivolous, unnecessary and dumber than dumb. If the government prevails in this ridiculous activity against the Pasadena church, it then will feel free to come after every other church and attempt to control ministerial dialogue with parishioners. If this happens, we ministerial leaders will have to monitor our every word to satisfy the incredible ego of a government gone berserk with its power and authority over freedom of speech and freedom of worship.

I would never go so far in my pulpit as to suggest how anyone in my congregation should vote. But I have in the past, and I will in the future, urge my congregants to stand for peace on earth, good will toward men. Does this mean I oppose all war? Not at all. Does this mean I would encourage my congregants to oppose all war? Not at all. It does mean this: when there is an option, let's give peace a chance. Let us always make war the last possible option.

This is not meant in any way as a defense of the Iraqi war, or as a sic 'em mentality. It is meant purely and simply in this way: members of the clergy must be given wide latitude in discussing all issues that affect people in their everyday lives, and unless there is a provocation from the pulpit that is so blatantly and unfairly in favor for or against a particular governmental policy, I would suggest that our government settle down and refrain from threatening churches, ministers, priests and rabbis.

The churches of America are not the enemy of the state. If we are targeted, then our democracy is in deep trouble.

If the government takes away one tax exemption from this one church, watch out, it will come for the rest of us as well. I urge all churches to stand united against this assault on our freedom of expression and freedom of worship as we see fit.

THE REV. THOMAS

E. WITHERSPOON

Minister

Unity Church of the Valley

La Crescenta

Nonprofit organizations are granted tax exemption by the Internal Revenue Service because their work is charitable, educational or religious. That tax benefit comes with specific requirements. One of these requirements is that tax-exempt organizations abstain from participating in partisan politics.

This is a sensible law, since tax-exempt groups are supposed to work for the benefit of the public, not spend their time, energy and money in trying to affect political campaigns.

Contrary to what many believe, the IRS does not single out religious organizations. Thousands of educational, scientific, charitable and literary organizations hold tax-exempt status, and all must abide by the same legal requirement barring involvement in partisan politics.

I believe however, that this requirement must have limits. To prohibit a tax-exempt organization from actively participating in politics, by giving money or services directly to a political cause or candidate, makes perfect sense. Most people donate money to an organization because they admire its work. They trust that their donation will be used to further altruistic causes. Utilizing this money for politics is a violation of trust and is unacceptable.

In the case being discussed, I believe that the house of worship should not lose its tax-exempt status, since there was no active participation or monetary support of a political cause or candidate. A speaker simply expressed his personal opinion on a political matter. The IRS should not enforce this law by prohibiting speech. This is where I draw the line.

In my opinion, active service or channeling of money falls into the category of prohibited participation in politics. Expressing a political opinion does not.

RABBI SIMCHA BACKMAN

Chabad Jewish Center

Glendale

There's something wrong here and it is bigger than the Internal Revenue Service threatening a church with a change in tax status. A few months ago when Pat Robertson openly called for the assassination of democratically elected president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez Frías, was there a similar investigation of his religious credentials?

Or was he donning the hat of a politician and therefore protected by another set of rules?

And what about the mosques, synagogues and churches where hatred toward others is preached, advocated or even tolerated? Why are these institutions granted refuge under tax-exempt laws?

In the case of All Saints Episcopal Church, they are being singled out, and it is obvious. The truth is, I can't imagine a church being a church, without it championing peace and justice. I can't even imagine a clergyman, whether priest, minister, rabbi or imam, who can dare to stand in the sight of God and not preach peace and work for a world without war. I can't imagine this because I can't imagine Jesus standing for anything that would denigrate the sanctity of life.

Since our country was founded, issues of freedom, justice, peace and humanitarian duty have all been debated in the pulpits, in the pews and the forums established by the religious community. Run the course of history to the present and you will see the same for every time we have been confronted with challenges that touch the core of our liberty as a nation. Imagine where Civil Rights would be had it not been for Martin Luther King who leaned on his faith to build a movement for equality.

Today, the Church must continue with the same zeal and enthusiasm to be an advocate for the poor and the oppressed, to lead the way to justice and peace. If the government is set on stifling the Church's voice, it must have the courage to continue even at the cost of losing its nonprofit privileges. We hope that it will not come to this and so, we all need to accept the All Saints battle as our own. All Saints, their ministry and congregation are in our prayers.

FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

As Baha'is we believe in following the laws of a just government, and as such, we also enjoy the privileges of laws that protect personal rights. The Constitution protects freedom of speech, and churches and synagogues have often used the pulpit to affect their members' beliefs and voting behavior, based on interpretations of religious teachings.

Recent opinions of conservative Christians, as they reflect upon public policy, have been prominent in the news. The anti-war stance has often been offered in sermons. Our hope is that any government body with the power to sanction or decide the status of a religious organization would conscientiously avoid personal or group bias, and remain neutral and fair regardless of the opinions of the group in question.

Baha'is are exhorted to avoid political campaigning or lobbying. Although we do not have official clergy or formal sermons, we do have members who speak extemporaneously or in context of planned discussions on subjects of interest during meetings. Although individual Baha'is may hold personal opinions on topical subjects, we take care not to present personal political leanings as general Baha'i opinion.

BARBARA CRAMER

Secretary

Glendale

Baha'i Faith

The separation of church and state is an important issue. But so too is the principle of the prophetic voice speaking truth to power. No church attender should be told how to vote; however, the government should not be attacking or harassing any church or minister who dares to say that the government's policy is wrong. I did not hear George Regas' sermon to the Episcopalians in Pasadena, so I don't know if he crossed the line of separation of church and state. But it is curious to me that a so-called "liberal" church is being threatened by the IRS, when members of the Christian Right (Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell) did everything but tell all who would listen to them to vote for George W. Bush, and I haven't heard any noise from the IRS against them.

So what's going on here? Preachers who support the U.S. government's policy in Iraq are OK, but those who oppose that policy had better duck? That's not fair, and it's not American. In any case, the church of Jesus Christ (he was put to death by the state, remember?), regardless of the cost, must witness to what it sees as the truth, and if that truth runs counter to what the state says, so be it.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a minister who was executed by the Nazis. He wrote a book called "The Cost of Discipleship." To be a faithful follower of Jesus may require a cost, perhaps even the bearing of a Cross. The question should not be, "Will we lose our tax-exempt status?" The question should be, "How can I best serve the Lord in whom I claim to believe?"

THE REV. C.L. "SKIP"

LINDEMAN

Congregational Church

of the Lighted Window

United Church of Christ

La Cañada Flintridge

People attend churches for many reasons. Some go for the relatively inexpensive entertainment between breakfast and shopping the Harvest Market. Others feel morally fulfilled by "putting in their time," and hope some blessings will follow after them. There are those that get a taste of belonging and soon become loyal fixtures in nearby congregations.

Then there are those for whom truth matters most. These may also enjoy the show, or not. They may not be "joiners" but will number in a church's roll anyway because they know it's not just all about them. They want to be meaningfully aided in their life's purpose through the one promising venue that holds out the very words of God and presents their many facets. They ask questions about significant issues, and want to align with the One whose infinite mind genuinely knows the answers.

Churches concerning themselves with the second group will sometimes pass near the Internal Revenue Service's flame as moral issues of the day raise political opponents. Suppose the Bible teaches something, and political candidate A accepts it and promises to serve accordingly if elected. Candidate B disregards Scripture and takes another tack. Should the pastor of a Bible-affirming flock be bound from disseminating this important information? Jesus said that we were to function as salt and light in our culture (Matthew 5:13-14); being active moral conservationists and divine beacons in this shadowy world.

To be most effective, Churches shouldn't be fettered from addressing political issues or from otherwise helping to fulfill Christ's directives as they reasonably understand them. In the days of the American Revolution, pastors openly preached the duty of resistance, and themselves carried muskets. Today they would resist either impulse under pain of government reprisals. I say, freedom of speech to the churches, for every area of a person's life is God's concern, even their politics!

THE REV. BRYAN GRIEM

Senior Pastor

Light On The Corner

Montrose

Our government has no business dictating what can and can not be preached in our nation's pulpits. But that's exactly what it's attempting when it uses the coercive tactic of pulling a church's tax-exempt status because of what that church teaches. Any legitimate American religious organization, regardless of faith or denomination, should be allowed complete freedom to communicate its beliefs. This freedom should include how these beliefs apply to current events, daily life, and yes, even politics and how we vote.

Our nation is full of people who seek wisdom from the Bible (and many other religious books, too) that will help us live out our faith in the real world.

We freely choose our spiritual leaders and we want to hear their opinions on the timely issues that concern us. Is our government now trying to tell us that our faith is acceptable as long as we stick to preaching about God in heaven, and not about how godly people should live on earth? The Apostle Paul's disciple Timothy led the church in the city of Ephesus. To ensure Timothy's effectiveness, Paul charged him to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." (2 Timothy 4:2).

I wonder what kind of a season it will be for those of us who wish to remain true to this charge.

PASTOR JON BARTA

Valley Baptist Church