Subject: IWG Star Bulletin Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 1997 23:51:36 -0500 (EST)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 3 congregations, 5 religious
organizations and 37 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.

February 7, 1997

David Shapiro
Star Bulletin
Box 3080
Honolulu, HI 96802

Dear Mr. Shapiro:

We commend you for your continued interest in the
topic of same-gender mar-riage.  Those of us in the
religious community working for the legal recognition
of the marriages of same-gender couples are acutely
aware that  people of faith have diverse opinions on
the subject.  

Marriage is both a civil and a religious institution. 
In most states the line between the two is blurred,
since a license is granted by an officer of the state
and signed by an officer of the church.  Most states
also offer a non-religious alternative (Justice of the
Peace), but in general, states allow religious
institutions to decide who may marry.  However,
despite the many religious bodies that now perform
marriages for same-gender couples, the states refuse
to recognize those relationships or to provide a civil
alternative.  The struggle to end marriage
discrimination is strengthening the bonds between
religious and sexual minorities as more and more
congregations recognize selective marriage recognition
as religious discrimination.  

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.