Subject: IWG Denver Post Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 22:34:23 -0500 (EST)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 11 congregations and religious
organizations and 49 clergy from 14 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.

November 10, 1997

The Denver Post
650 15th Street
Denver,  CO  80202

Dear Editors:

Ellen Makkai's commentary on sexual orientation
("Guiding voice falls mute," November 9) completely
failed to recognize the distinctions between individual
religiously-motivated behavior, social acceptability,
denominational policy, and civil law.  If Ms. Makkai
wants to go around telling people that they're going to
hell for not sharing her understanding of "the truth,"
then she has a constitutionally-protected right to do
so.  But such behavior is not generally socially
acceptable, no matter what the reason.

As for the correct behavior of "the church" (which Ms.
Makkai inexplicably uses interchangeably with "Bible
Thumpers") there is a great deal of disagreement among
Christian denominations, clergy, and congregations
about how to react to sexual minorities.  Some take a
stand against same-gender sexual behavior both for
members and non-members; some frown on it for church
members but support it as a civil right; some attempt
to convert people to heterosexual behavior; some
champion the rights of the historically oppressed in
all aspects of society; and others simply stay silent
and wish that the issue would go away.  

Equal protection under the law, like Ms. Makkai's right
to tell people that they are going to hell or to
worship with other people who share her vision of the
truth, is protected by the constitution, not defined by
the beliefs of any one religion.   

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

-- 

Interfaith Working Group                Religious organizations, congregations
[email-masked]                      and clergy supporting gay rights,
http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/         reproductive freedom, and the 
215-235-3050                            separation of church and state.