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While the Bush-Cheney campaign defended the legality of urging churchgoing volunteers to turn over parish rolls for political organizing, Internal Revenue Service officials spelled out the ways that congregations could risk fines or the loss of their tax exemptions.

IRS spokespersons initially were mostly tentative when commenting on the GOP’s tactics. In appeals to church workers, Republicans outlined more than 20 organizing deadlines for church-related events. The request for church directories set off alarm bells.