The Freedom From Religion Foundation is requesting an IRS investigation into an Alabama church that promoted Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore on its marquee.

Living Way Ministries in Opelika drew national attention for its sign that said "They falsely accused Jesus! Vote Roy Moore." Church officials said the message was posted by a church member and the pastor later requested it be removed.

Moore faces Democrat Doug Jones in the Dec. 12 election. The former Alabama Chief Justice has been accused of having improper sexual contact with teenage girls in the 1970s. He denies the charges.

FFRF said the sign is a violation of the Johnson Amendment that prohibits non-profit organizations, including churches and other religious groups, from participating in political campaigns on behalf of a particular candidate.

"Living Way Ministries appears to have inappropriately used its religious organization to intervene in a political campaign," FFRF Legal Director Rebecca Markert writes to IRS official Mary Epps in the Dallas office. "It violated IRS regulations by expressly advocating its support for Roy Moore. Given these partisan activities, Living Way Ministries violated the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt rules, which prohibit electioneering."

FFRF has requested the IRS "commence an immediate investigation" to determine if the church violated the Johnson Amendment.

President Trump has spoken out against the Johnson Amendment and vowed to see it overturned. The House of Representatives repealed the measure in its most recent tax bill but the Senate did not.

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