Subject: IWG letter to Mayor Rendell Date: Sat, 8 Jun 1996 11:52:12 -0400 (EDT) From: Chris Purdom Note - Mayor Rendell signed a rather underwhelming Domestic Partnership Executive Order on Thursday which covered only his appointees. Friday's TV coverage and Saturday's newspapers were mostly about the negative reaction of the Cardinal and the Black Clergy of Philadelphia. This is a repeat of what happened when hearings were held in City Council a few years ago. The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 2 congregations, 4 religious organizations and 24 clergy from 10 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/ June 7, 1996 Mayor Ed. Rendell Office of the Mayor Room 216, City Hall Philadelphia, PA 19107-1684 Dear Mayor Rendell: Thank you for signing the executive order granting domestic partnership benefits to same-sex couples. We hope that this is only the first step to a more complete Domestic Partnership Program in Philadelphia. Please realize that the religious leaders who have spoken out against your action do not speak for all religious individuals in Philadelphia, nor do they speak exclusively for God. This is a civil matter, and not the concern of the church. The line between church and state was dangerously blurred by the one- sided religious testimony in the original City Council hearings on the subject. We pray that in this case history will not repeat itself. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators In addition (not on letterhead - anybody have a used scanner they feel like donating?) the following was faxed to various media outlets in Philadelphia on Saturday morning - P R E S S R E L E A S E June 8, 1996 Contact: Chris Purdom 389-1400 (box 2) - all calls will be returned rapidly RELIGIOUS GROUP THANKS MAYOR FOR SIGNING DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP EXECUTIVE ORDER The Interfaith Working Group thanked Mayor Rendell today for signing the Domestic Partnership Executive Order. Reminding the mayor that those religious leaders who had contacted him in opposition to domestic partnership do not represent all religious Philadelphians or speak exclusively for God, the coordinators of the Interfaith Working Group (IWG) also stated that they hope the separation of church and state will be preserved in Philadelphia and that the mayor will not repeat City Council's mistake of giving undue weight to one-sided religious testimony on this issue. The IWG will march in the Diversity of Pride Parade on Sunday, June 9. Coordinators Barbara and Chris Purdom will be available in position 30 at Rittenhouse Square from 11:30 am to noon prior to the parade.