Bush won't intercede on behalf of Episcopal Church

Questioned about an Episcopal church that's been targeted by the Internal Revenue Service for allegedly talking about taboo subjects from the pulpit, presidential press secretary Scott McClellan said at today's White House press briefing it's not the president's place to "engage in IRS enforcement matters."

The IRS is investigating All Saints Episcopal Church, a registered nonprofit, because of a sermon delivered there in which the speaker criticized the war in Iraq and President Bush's tax cuts.

"Will the president intercede on behalf of this church to stop this investigation that has all the earmarks of a political retribution, since the president has so much respect for churches?" WND asked McClellan.

Responded the press secretary: "I'm not familiar with this specific enforcement action, but I think that that's something you need to address to the IRS, if it's an IRS enforcement action."

"Yes," countered WND, "but I just wonder, is the president - does he approve of this? Won't he intercede on behalf of this church?"

Said McClellan: "If I've got any more for you, I'll provide it. But I don't think that's the proper place for the president to engage in IRS enforcement matters."

At the briefing, WND also questioned McClellan about the president's honoring of Muhammad Ali with the Medal of Freedom recently despite the former boxer's having refused to serve in the Army due to his allegiance to the "stridently anti-American, anti-white Nation of Islam."

Responded McClellan: "The president was very pleased to honor Muhammad Ali and several other distinguished Americans, and even some people who have led in other parts of the world, with the Medal of Freedom, our nation's highest honor. And what he said when it comes to Muhammad Ali is what he stands by."

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2 posted on 12/02/2005 8:01:07 AM PST by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || To Libs: You are failing to celebrate MY diversity! || Iran Azadi)

McClellan...it's not the president's place to "engage in IRS enforcement matters."

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