Columnist for Presbyterian nonprofit group accused of political lobbying, jeopardizing its IRS status
By Charles F. Burge, The Layman, May 21, 2008
By commending Democrats and disparaging Republicans, a columnist for the Witherspoon Society is being accused of violating Internal Revenue Service restrictions against nonprofit groups lobbying for candidates or political parties.
In his column titled “A Role for the Left,” Douglas F. Ottati listed the following as “good news:” “The popularity among American voters of George W. Bush and the War in Iraq have plummeted … both seem likely to present real challenges to the presumptive Republican nominee for President …” and “The Democrats managed to come up with a good, even historic field of candidates for their presidential nomination, all with generally positive inclinations … .” Ottati also said “many Presbyterian (and other) progressives found themselves having to decide between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.”
Ottati asks, “Which Democratic candidate should we support?” and summarizes this answer: “In short, after eight years of W. and his many accomplishments, both foreign and domestic, our chief electoral responsibility seems nicely summarized by a sticker I saw the other day on another friend’s car: ‘Enough is enough. Vote Democratic.’ ”
The column ties in the political analysis with the ordination of homosexuals in the Presbyterian Church (USA): “(A) basic task of the left … is to present arguments … that committed and mutual gay and lesbian sexual relationships fall within a theologically normative understanding of human sexual relationships, and then to press for changes in church and world that accord with this judgment.”
James Berkley of Presbyterian Action, who alerted The Layman to this article, said “The Witherspoon Society has shown its true colors: It’s a Democrat interest group.” Berkley also wrote on his blog that Ottati’s article “crosses the line and puts the Witherspoon Society directly in the position of promoting Democratic candidates for president and opposing Republicans. Any pretense of being neutral or not intervening in a political campaign has evaporated.”
Doug King, editor of the Witherspoon Society’s newsletter, stands by the column. He told The Layman that he believes Ottati’s comments “were perfectly within the realm of responsible theological reflection on a political issue.” King said that it was similar to other efforts by churches and did not represent an endorsement of a candidate.
The IRS says that, by law, organizations exempt from tax (under IRS section 501(c)(3)) may not “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” Violation can lead to revocation of a group’s tax-exempt status.
The IRS prohibition against political campaign activity has been in effect for more than half a century and bars certain tax-exempt organizations from intervening on behalf of or in opposition to political candidates. However, these organizations can engage in advocating for or against issues and, to a limited extent, ballot initiatives or other legislative activities.
In addition to his writing duties for the Witherspoon Society, Ottati is also a professor at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C. Berkley is the director of Presbyterian Action, affiliated with the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington, D.C.