Date: Tue, 05 Dec 1995 00:25:19 -0500 (EST) From: Chris Purdom Subject: IWG USA Today letter The following went out on IWG letterhead (2 congregations, 4 religious organizations and 16 clergy - if you represent a congregation or religious organization or are clergy, let us know if you want to be added - all faiths are welcome). Substantially similar letters (minus the last paragraph) also went to the San Francisco Examiner and NY Times, since they all printed the same letter from the CBN: December 1, 1995 USA Today 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington,VA,22229 Dear Editors: Pat Robertson would have you believe that he is threatening to sue TV stations that show PFLAG's ads because those ads insult his deeply held religious beliefs. Since when are religious beliefs beyond criticism? Mr. Robertson regularly attacks all faiths but his own as false, and his expressed views on sexual minorities are deeply offensive to those of us who believe as tenets of OUR religions that homosexual acts of love are not inherently sinful. Apparently attacks on Mr. Robertson's faith alone are blasphemy. Robertson has already done an enormous amount of damage to free speech, the democratic process, and the general public's perception of religion. He regularly attacks his opponents through his Christian Broadcast Network and then silences their responses with the high-priced legal talents of his American Center for Law and Justice. Let us hope for the sake of all Americans that his dream of controlling the United States government through his Christian Coalition never comes to pass. Thank you for keeping democracy alive by giving PFLAG the opportunity to run their ad on your editorial page. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators