Subject: IWG Cogress letter Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 00:20:28 -0400 (EDT) From: Chris Purdom The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 2 congregations, 5 religious organizations and 35 clergy from 12 faiths and denominations. If you are in the general Philadelphia area and represent a congregation or religious organization or are clergy, let us know if you want to be added - all faiths are welcome. We will also be happy to help start similar organizations in other areas. Visit the web page at http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/ or http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/religion/orgs/iwg/ This letter went to Specter, Santorum, and Foglietta July 24, 1996 The Honorable Arlen Specter United States Senate 530 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Specter: We are completely opposed to any attempt to change the First or Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution including the Hyde Amendment (H.J. Res 121/S.J. Res 45), the Istook Amendment and the Armey Amendment (H.J.Res 184). Religion freedom requires protection from the government and protection by the government. It is guaranteed by both the anti-establishment and free- exercise clauses of the first amendment and the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment. The proposed amendments would allow religious majorities in a community to dictate the content of (previously unconstitutional) religious exercises at public functions; shift dependence on the government to dependence on and coercion by the local church; and permit legal discrimination on religious, sexual or racial grounds by individuals who feel that such discrimination is dictated by their religious beliefs. Any attempt to weaken the establishment clause or strengthen the free-exercise clause will diminish the protections afforded religious minorities and assist coercion by the majority. Yours In Faith, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators