Illinois Church Donations Diverted to Politicians

All told, 220 tax-exempt churches, charities, universities and foundations have given $186,475 to state and local candidates and political organizations during the last five years. Baptist churches -- many of them on Chicago's West Side -- were the biggest group of givers, contributing about $52,000.
The gifts include cash, ticket buys for political fund-raisers and even college basketball tickets, the Chicago Sun-Times learned while researching the BGA's findings.