From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG USA Today Letter Date: Sat, 14 Dec 1996 23:47:29 -0500 (EST) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 3 congregations, 5 religious organizations and 36 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. December 13, 1996 USA Today 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington,VA 22229 Dear Editors: Thank you very much for your editorial favoring legal recognition of same-gender marriage. Your remarks about the licensing of other sacraments were right on the mark. Unfortunately, Lou Sheldon insists on classifying people. He believes that the perceptions held by the general public about a minority group should bind everyone in that group to a given stereotype, and that everyone in that group should be treated accordingly. After only recognizing some people as members of groups himself, he then paradoxically complains about judges recognizing these groups by granting them so-called "special rights." He completely ignores the possibility that some people might belong to more than one group, such as gay and Christian. Rights are not bestowed on groups, they are bestowed on individuals. Rights are denied to groups at the insistence of people like Lou Sheldon who are unable to recognize other people as humans unless they think and act just like him. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators -- Interfaith Working Group Religious organizations, congregations iwg@libertynet.org and clergy supporting gay rights, http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/ reproductive freedom, and the 215-235-3050 separation of church and state.