From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Lexington Kentucky Letter Date: Fri, 10 Oct 1997 23:30:02 -0400 (EDT) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 10 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. October 10, 1997 Lexington Herald-Leader 100 Midland Avenue Lexington, KY 40508 Dear Editors: In his letter of October 6 Jeffrey Watson ignored both the separation of church and state and the diversity of religious opinion on sexual orientation. Certainly many people believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God and that it condemns same-gender sexual behavior. There are, however, many religious people in this country who have different opinions on one or both of these ideas. This is a religiously diverse society, with no official state religion. An individual corporation is no more required to uphold the tenets of any one particular religion than is any individual citizen. Nor is there any law preventing an employer from giving particular benefits to employees. Mr. Watson fails to recognize that even among Christians there is considerable debate as to what exactly constitutes sin. Same gender relationships are only one of a long list that has been debated and reinterpreted for the last 2,000 years. 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.