Subject: IWG Hendersonville letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 00:19:47 -0500 (EST)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 3 congregations, 6 religious
organizations and 37 clergy from 13 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.

March 4, 1997

To The Editor
Times-News
PO BOX 490
Hendersonville, NC  28793

Dear Editor:

Timothy Lyda is under the mistaken impression that it
is the responsibility of the state to communicate that
marriage is sacred.  He contends that the sanctity of
marriage will be nullified if the marriages of same-
gender couples are legally recognized.  The sanctity of
anything is a matter for religious bodies, not the
state.  Same-gender couples are already marrying in
churches, synagogues, meeting houses and temples all
over the country.   The only message that is being sent
by the government's refusal to recognize these unions
is that discrimination on the basis of gender and
religion is acceptable.

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.