Christian Anti-Abortion Group Has 501(c)(3) Status Revoked

The Internal Revenue Service announced last Friday that it has revoked its determination that Youth Ministries, Inc., d/b/a Operation Rescue West Wichita, KS qualifies as a Section 501(c)(3) and Section 170(c)(2) exempt non-profit organization. IRS Announcement 2006-69 (Sept. 8, 2006). Operation Rescue is an anti-abortion group that describes itself as "one of the leading pro-life Christian organizations in the nation ... on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to restore legal personhood to the pre-born and stop abortion in obedience to biblical mandates." The group and its leader, Troy Newman, have been under investigation by the IRS for money laundering and tax evasion. Apparently Newman claims his staff are "missionaries" and does not report their income to the IRS. (Wikipedia.)