The United Church of Christ’s nonprofit tax status has been called into question by the Internal Revenue Service because Illinois Senator Barack Obama gave
this speech at the General Synod in Hartford this summer.
Obama, a member of the church, appeared at the Hartford Civic Center on June 23, 2007 to address a crowd of more than 10,000 UCC members, who were passing around dozens of cookies, not political literature, which could cost the church its tax status.
Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez was outraged by the allegations made by the IRS.
In a press release sent out Wednesday, he said, “Monday’s action by the IRS is an intimidation tactic aimed at preventing churches and people of faith from hearing from public officials about the important issues of the day.”
Perez was so upset by the allegations he sent this letter to Connecticut’s Congressional delegation.