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Evangelicals decry Bush use of churches: Campaign sends laundry list of duties

A laundry list of duties sent to conservative Christian volunteers by the Bush-Cheney reelection campaign is causing alarm among evangelical leaders who are concerned that the use of congregations as political organizing bases will endanger churches’ tax-exempt status.

The circular, which specifically directs volunteers to send church directories to state campaign officials, dismayed Republican-friendly figures such as Southern Baptist church-state specialist Richard Land. “I’m appalled that the Bush-Cheney campaign would intrude on a local congregation in this way,” Land said.