The crackdown may have been on many minds as a secret meeting took place earlier this month between right-wing religious groups and Republican-seat holders in Congress. The groups, such as the Christian Coalition and Focus on the Family, both haunted by the spectre of cash-flow stoppages, complained they were being treated by the Republicans they'd elected in the manner of cheap dates.

In an agreement just made public, the IRS has revoked the tax exemption of the Christian Broadcasting Network for the years 1986 and '87 and permanently revoked the exemption of three other now-defunct Robertson organizations.

CBN was also required to make an undisclosed "significant payment" to the IRS, add outside persons to the board of directors and agree "not to engage in campaign activities."

Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, "This action shows that even millionaire TV preachers have to obey the federal tax laws. I say, hallelujah!"

"The IRS action sends a strong message to other religious ministries that engage in partisan politics," Lynn added. "You are risking your tax exemption.

"Robertson has tried to stampede churches into partisan politics," Lynn noted. "This shows what could happen to churches that follow his lead."

"This is an important first step, but now the IRS needs to take action against Robertson's political arm, the Christian Coalition," Lynn continued. "The evidence of Coalition wrong-doing is overwhelming."

Lynn said the ban on future political activities by CBN is especially significant.

"The biggest question now is whether Robertson has learned his lesson," said Lynn. "I have my doubts. But you can be sure that we will be watching."

On an unspecified day recently Paul Weyrich, the "godfather" of the conservative movement's 1980s resurgence, summoned to his office 25 persons representing the reputedly separate fields of "religion" and "politics". Political leaders were treated to a close look at the dissatisfaction over Republican leadership that now prevails at every level of the conservative Christian movement's bureaucracies.

Republican candidates, the politicians heard, had promised before being elected that they would place the twin "threats" of homosexuality and abortion at the tops of their agendas. "Christian" political operatives who provide precinct walkers and other fundamentalist Trojan horses are currently having tantrums inasmuch as their elected "representatives," they think, have abandoned wholesale the cause of "Biblical-standards" sex-control.

In a development unsettling to Republican strategists, the "Christian" right, represented by James Dobson (see GayToday archives, Reviews) at first threatened to pull their foot soldiers away from Republican political fronts altogether.

Gary Bauer, who bears a striking resemblance to the late film actor, Peter Lorre, and who is president of the Family Research Council, is reportedly considering a run for the presidency, encouraging speculation about his hopes.

Republican politicos like Newt Gingrich are attempting to put salves on the gaping new sores appearing on the body of GOP unity. Some believe religious conservatives are only bellowing because they have no where else to go, that they are merely testing the GOP and that, in the long run, they will not break ranks.

In the meantime tax infraction investigations—for mixing politics and religion-- proceed apace.