NEWARK, N.J. – A group that advocates for separation of church and state has alerted the Internal Revenue Service to a column by the Roman Catholic bishop of Paterson, contending he violated rules for tax-exempt organizations by publicly criticizing Barack Obama for his support of abortion rights.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State wants the IRS to review the column, which appeared two weeks ago in the diocesan newspaper.

While tax-exempt groups are allowed to advocate on political issues, they are barred from participating or intervening in political campaigns for or against any candidate.

In the column, Bishop Arthur Serratelli did not name Obama, but, referring to the “present democratic candidate” who favors the “Freedom of Choice Act,” the bishop framed the election as essential regarding the future of abortion, which the Catholic Church staunchly opposes.

“Today we live in a democracy,” Serratelli wrote. “We choose our leaders who make our laws. Every vote counts. Today, either we choose to respect and protect life, especially the life of the child in the womb of the mother, or we sanction the loss of our most basic freedoms. At this point, we are still free to choose!”

The Republican presidential nominee, John McCain, opposes abortion rights.

Serratelli’s column also referred to a speech by Obama last year in which he said his first major presidential act would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which forbids government rules that impede women’s access to abortion. And the bishop implicitly compared Obama to King Herod of Judea, who slaughtered the children of Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the infant Jesus, according to the New Testament, and his son Herod Antipas, who executed John the Baptist.

“If this politician fulfills his promise, not only will many of our freedoms as Americans be taken from us, but the innocent and vulnerable will spill their blood,” Serratelli wrote.

Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, contended the column’s timing was clearly meant to sway voters.

He said that even though Serratelli did not explicitly name Obama, the bishop left no doubt as to whom he was talking about.

“He’s suggesting the candidate is so reprehensible that he compared him to a Roman emperor (sic) who beheaded John the Baptist. I think he knew exactly what he was doing. He intended to influence voters.”

Lynn said he does not expect the IRS to remove the diocese’s tax exemption. He said he hopes for an intermediary step, such as Serratelli having to write a letter indicating he was aware he should not have written the column.

The diocese, in a prepared statement, said Serratelli’s column “was not directed to the upcoming presidential election, but was rather focused on the Freedom of Choice Act and the harm it would do to the nation if it were to be signed into law.”

Earlier this year, during the Republican primaries, Americans United complained to the IRS about Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, R.I., who had criticized Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani for his support of abortion rights.