Freedom from Religion group, IRS settle lawsuit

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin-based group representing atheists and agnostics has agreed to drop a federal lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over tax-exempt churches and religious organizations that get involved in political campaigns.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation and the IRS submitted a motion in federal court on Thursday asking the judge to dismiss the case filed in 2012.

The Foundation says in the filing that it agreed to drop the case after the IRS proved to the group it is not ignoring political activity by churches.

The original lawsuit alleged that the IRS was not enforcing the federal tax code, which prohibits tax-exempt religious organizations from electioneering.

But Foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor says the IRS has proven they have a protocol in place to enforce the anti-electioneering provisions.