American Atheists, Inc. P O Box 140195 Austin, Texas 78714-0195 (512) 458-1244 http://www.atheists.org PRESS RELEASE For immediate release: February 19, 1997 ATHEISTS REPEAT CALL: PROBE TAX-EXEMPT BUDDHIST TEMPLE, SECT FOR CAMPAIGN VIOLATIONS AMERICAN ATHEISTS today repeated its call for the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the activities of the Hsi Lai Temple and the "Supreme Master" sect of Suma Ching Hai, groups linked to the "soft money" scandal and the 1996 Presidential campaign. On January 8, 1997, American Atheist President Ellen Johnson called upon IRS Commissioner Margaret Milner Richardson to "examine the tax-exempt status of the Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple and similar corporate entities linked to Supreme Master Ching Hai." Both groups appear to be conduits in the attempt to funnel anonymous contributions to the Democratic National Committee and the President's Whitewater legal defense fund. In yet another letter to Commissioner Richardson (attached), Ms. Johnson noted that "there is actionable evidence that both the Temple and Supreme Master sect may have engaged in improper partisan political activity, a violation which should prompt your Agency to reconsider whatever special religious tax exemption these groups enjoy." AA National Media Coordinator Ronald Barrier noted tht tracking by American Atheists indicates that the last campaign was a "highwater mark" for questionable political activities by religious groups. "Not only were the candidates trying to out-do each other with religious rhetoric, but churches, temples and sects - as well as organizations like the Christian Coalition - were ignoring state-church separation and mixing religious with political activism." Ms. Johnson added: "Religious groups enjoy a special tax exempt privilege. They endanger that privilege, and violate the law, by campaigning or raising money for political candidates." Ms. Johnson urged Commissioner Richardson to respond in a "timely" fashion and outline what action her Agency intended to take. For more information please contact: Ms. Ellen Johnson, Presidnet (201)334-4033 Email: ej@atheists.org Mr. Ronald Barrier, NMC (718)356-8658 Email: rbarrier@atheists.org * * * American Atheists, Inc. P O Box 140195 Austin, Texas 78714-0195 (512) 458-1244 http://www.atheists.org Margaret Milner Richardson, Commissioner Feb. 19, 1997 Internal Revenue Service 1111 Constitution Ave. NW Washington, DC 20224 Dear Commissioner: On January 8, 1997, our organization contacted your agency to express our concern over possible violations of rules governing religious, tax-exempt groups known to have been conduits for funneling so-called "soft money" to the Democratic National Committee and President Clinton's legal defense fund. I noted that thus far, at least two Buddhist religious groups had been linked to such highly questionable activities in the 1996 campaign. They are: the Hsi Lai Temple, a Los Angeles-based sect operated by the International Buddhist Progress Society, and another group linked to Buddhist religious leader "Supreme Master" Ching Hai. Individuals linked to the Democratic National Committee, specifically Mr. John Huang and Mr. Charles Trie, reportedly orchestrated transfers in excess of $600,000 in questionable checks and other instruments. Reports this past weekend in the Washington Post and other media suggest that this may have been part of a larger pattern of questionable, even illegal activity linked to numerous foreign interests, including possibly the Washington Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China. As President of American Atheists, an organization dedicated to the total and absolute separation of state and church, I again wish to request that your Office re-evaluate the tax-exempt status of both the Hsi Lai Buddhist Temples and similar corporate entities linked to Supreme Master Ching Hai. There is actionable evidence that both the Temple and the Supreme Master sect may have engaged in improper partisan political activity, a violation which should prompt your Agency to reconsider whatever special religious tax exemption these groups enjoy. Again, I welcome discussion with you on these matters and look forward to hearing from you soon. Respectfully, Ellen Johnson, President American Atheists, Inc. EJ/rjb