n a setback for one of America's major religious right political groups, the Internal Revenue Service has reportedly concluded that the Christian Coalition is not entitled to a tax-exempt status. A report in the St. Petersburg Times newspaper claims that in a confidential IRS document delivered recently to the coalition, the Service found that the organization, founded by televangelist Pat Robertson, was not an educational group but rather acted as a political arm in favor of the Republican Party. University of Miami law professor Francis Hill told the Times, "It is suggesting that the real activities were in substantial part to influence the outcome of elections."

   The Times adds that the existence and contents of the document were confirmed by former Christian Coalition field director Dave Welch, who departed from the organization last March. The group has been undergoing a major reorganization in recent months, including the removal of numerous key officials such as its former President, Randy Tate. News reports suggest that Pat Robertson is "clearing the decks" at the Coalition in anticipation of the year 2000 elections.

   The Times and other media sources report "disintegration" within the Coalition, as well as claims that Robertson has angered many religious Christian conservatives by defending Texas Gov. George Bush as "profoundly pro-life" on the abortion rights question. In addition, the shakeup at the Coalition seems to have resulted in a decline in the number of active CC chapters; the paper notes that only six states now have active chapters, "down from a peak of between 20 and 25 several years ago."

   The IRS investigation had focused on the Coalition's extensive use of voters guide. Critics charged that the guides were simplistic and slanted to favor Coalition-backed candidates -- mostly Republicans -- and were distinctly partisan. Democrats campaigning for public office have complained that the guides frequently distorted their real views on social issues, and were distributed near election day deadlines, thus making a response difficult. An estimated 37 million of the guides and other political materials were distributed by the coalition in the last national elections.

   The paper also reports that a law partner of Christian Coalition attorney Alan Dye, Frank Northam, has already incorporated a new group known as The Christian Coalition of America. "Former coalition staffers say the new organization expects to file an application for tax exemption and continue to operate under this new umbrella group while the application is pending," added Times writer Mary Jacoby.

   A statement issued this morning by Pat Robertson announced, "Christian Coalition of America will continue to be a force in American politics and it will remain a prominent fixture on the political landscape as the nation's number-one, pro-family, pro-life organization." There is already speculation, though, about what the IRS ruling means, and how it could affect both Robertson's political machine and other religious right groups. The Coalition has reportedly spent more than it has collected in donations, so IRS may not be able to assess any tax liability. Former staffers seem disenchanted with Robertson, though, and may be looking in search of new political vehicles. Mr. Welch is working with Vision America which is described as a "group of pastors . which hopes to fill any voice left by the Christian Coalition."

   Vision America is based in Chicago, Illinois, and describes itself as a conservative Republican organization.

   Despite this setback, Robertson appears to be moving ahead with his goal of raising $21 million for the year 2000 elections. Robertson unveiled that ambitious program at a press conference in March, describing it as "the most massive effort to mobilize the grass roots in our history" and "the largest voter education in this history of the organization (Christian Coalition), and possibly in the history of grassroots politics." The effort will include distribution of more than 75 million voter guides in the 2000 election; a "tenfold" expansion in the group's political field staff, especially in key states including New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois; training of 1.5 million field volunteers "to mobilize evangelical voters"; and "energizing" a political base of up to 15 million fundamentalist and evangelical Christians to trek to the polls in 2000 and follow Robertson's line in choosing candidates and referendum issues.

   Barry Lynn of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State greeted the reported IRS decision with enthusiasm, saying that "This is a devastating blow to TV preacher Pat Robertson's political ambitions." He added that Robertson's "crusade to politicize America's churches is now almost certain to fail." But it remains unclear how the tax service's ruling would prevent Robertson and his new group from similar politicking; in addition, religious groups both right and left seem to be increasingly active in promoting candidates and their respective social agendas. In Philadelphia, for instance, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese has announced plans to distribute its own voters guides for parishioners, outlining political candidates' stands on abortion rights, homosexuality, vouchers and other pet issues. And the line between church and state is blurring further, as both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates seek to cash in on the "family values" agenda by talking about god and role of religion in public life. Vice President Al Gore has even gone as far as to support "charitable choice" and aide to sectarian religious groups in what he describes as a "New Partnership" between government and faith-based groups.

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