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Local Clergy File Complaint Against Washington Church

Church Lawsuit (Added: February 23, 2010)

The line between church and state is getting a little fuzzy for some Central Ohio churches. (more)

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Published: February 23, 2010

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The line between church and state is getting a little fuzzy for some Central Ohio churches.

Several congregations are part of an IRS complaint that a Washington, D.C. church isn't a place of worship, but a place for high-powered politics.

The complaint includes 13 local clergy and claims that the C Street Center in Washington, D.C. is posing as a church.

"This boarding house was calling itself a church -- a church that caters exclusively to members of Congress and their powerful friends," said Rev. Eric Williams, of the United Church of Christ.

The 130-year-old brick building drew publicity last year, when both South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and U.S. Senator John Ensign sought spiritual advice at the center.

The building is steps away from the Congressional office building and across the street from the Library of Congress.

NBC 4 attempted to contact the center, but the facility does not have a Web site or public phone number.

"Today we have a small window that we can open to begin to shine light on this organization," Williams said.

According to attorney Marcus Owens, the IRS could take 12 months to conduct an audit.

If the IRS finds against the C Street Center, their tax exempt status will be revoked.

After the audit is complete, the complaint could be picked up by the Congressional Ethics Offices.

"If indeed the evidence suggests that there has been some level of financial benefit provided to members of Congress in a way to appear that they appear to have known about it, then it could become a criminal matter," Owens said.

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