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

San Francisco Examiner
PO Box 7260
San Francisco, CA 94120

Dear Editors:

In her column about the "Defense of Marriage Act," Stephanie Salter has 
correctly identified and communicated the problems with actively engaging the 
government in marriage (by limiting it to heterosexuals), paving the way for 
government to tightly limit access to marriage based upon other criteria. 
Ms. Salter has highlighted an aspect of the debate on anti-marriage 
legislation which has been widely overlooked.
			

					Sincerely,
		Barbara Purdom            	Christopher Purdom
			Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

Ms. Stephanie Salter
San Francisco Examiner
PO Box 7260
San Francisco, CA 94120

Dear Ms. Salter:

Thank you very much for your column about the "Defense
of Marriage Act".  You have correctly identified and
communicated the problem of actively engaging the
government in marriage by limiting it to heterosexuals,
thereby setting a precedent for tightly limiting access
to marriage based upon other criteria.  The potential
danger of anti-marriage legislation of this type has so
far been widely overlooked.  Keep up the good work.


					Sincerely,
		Barbara Purdom            	Christopher Purdom
			Interfaith Working Group Coordinators