Atheist Group Files IRS Complaint Against Billy Graham Over Political Ads

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed an IRS complaint against Billy Graham's organization after the elderly evangelical published several full-page newspaper ads urging followers to vote for "Biblical values."

"BGEA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has run full-page ads publicizing Billy Graham's call for the electorate to 'vote biblical values,'" said FFRF in a statement last week. "The ads have appeared in several 'swing state' newspapers in preparation for tomorrow's heated presidential election. Throughout the month of October, BGEA published articles favorable to Romney, which included a statement by Billy Graham." Brent Rinehart of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association provided The Christian Post with an official statement regarding the "Biblical Values" ad campaign. "The ads intentionally do not mention any candidate, political party, or contest, urging instead for readers to cast votes for candidates-at all levels-based on their support for biblical values," reads the statement in part.

Before the election a large coalition of Christian pastors purposely taunted the IRS by making political speeches from their podiums in which they did name candidates and parties. (Guess which ones?) The pastors are hoping to goad the IRS into finally taking the legal action that the Christian right believes will result in the end of the ban on political speech by churches.