From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Amarillo marriage letter Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 10:16:36 -0500 (EST) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and organizations and 53 clergy from 15 religious traditions. 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 23, 1997 Amarillo Globe News PO Box 2091 Amarillo, TX 79166 Dear Editors: Thank you for Dorsey Wilmarth's December 11 coverage of the same-gender marriage debate. We were especially glad that Wilmarth pointed out that civil marriage and religious marriage are two different institutions, that no member of the clergy will be required to perform same-gender marriages, and that the legalization of same-gender marriage cannot possibly harm mixed-gender marriage. However, readers may have been left with the mistaken impression that all people of faith are opposed to both legal and religious same-gender marriage. In fact, some people in the religious community oppose both types of same-gender marriage, some support legal same- gender marriage but oppose religious same-gender marriage, and some support both types. 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.