Subject: IWG Inquirer Marriage/Focus Group letter
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 23:43:13 -0400 (EDT)
From: Chris Purdom <purdom@rabbit.com>



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/

August 14, 1996


The Philadelphia Inquirer
PO Box 8263
Phila., PA 19101

Dear Editors:

Steven Thomma's story on focus groups was interesting
and informative, but had severe logical flaws in the
last example.  The use of the phrase "Religious
Political Extremists" has caused some debate among
those who speak often of the Religious Right, but it is
not reasonable to suppose that one use of that phrase
by Candace Gingrich in a single speech on same-sex
marriage would be enough to either determine the
effectiveness of the phrase or significantly alter
people's opinions on marriage.  Nor is it correct to
conclude that because the President and a majority of
the people are still opposed to legal recognition of
same-sex marriages that Ms. Gingrich failed to win over
anybody.  

The American public has been exposed to a broad array
of arguments on the subject of same-sex marriage during
the last year, and as a result, public support has
risen steadily, especially among younger people and in
the progressive religious community.  Somewhere between
35% and 40% of the population, depending on the poll,
now support same-sex marriage, up from under 20% just a
year ago. 

The only logical conclusion is that same-sex marriage
is more popular than it was before Candace Gingrich
made her speech.  Whether that single speech or her use
of the phrase "Religious Political Extremists" affected
that popularity one way or the other would require more
extensive research than Mr. Thomma conducted for his
article.


					Sincerely,
		Barbara Purdom            	Christopher Purdom
			Interfaith Working Group Coordinators