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/.

September 16, 1996

The New York Times
229 W. 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036

Dear Editors:

Thank you for Diana Butler's article on religion and same-gender marriage. 
While it is true that religious groups have been among the strongest 
advocates for the legal recognition of same-gender marriage, it is an 
oversimplification to characterize this support as an attack on promiscuity.  
Some other reasons religious institutions have given for their support include:

1) God  wants people to be in loving, committed relationships with each
other, and it is sinful to discourage such relationships.

2) Gender roles are a sin from which we were saved, and exclusively
heterosexual marriage is based upon and embodies the evil of gender roles.

3) Limiting marriage to heterosexual couples implies that heterosexuals are
morally superior.

4) We must treat all people the same.  It is unjust and unconstitutional to
create a privileged class of citizen, with certain rights and responsibilities, 
that not all people can aspire to, even when they are willing to observe the 
rules for that class.

5) The marriage process already entangles church and state to a dangerous
degree by leaving most of the determination of qualification for marriage up to
clergy or congregations and having them act as unpaid agents of the state in
signing the license.  Denying licenses to some couples who have been approved 
for marriage by clergy or congregations adds to the further entanglement of 
church and state and constitutes religious favoritism.




					Sincerely,
		Barbara Purdom            	Christopher Purdom
			Interfaith Working Group Coordinators