From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Philadelphia Inquirer Letter Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 12:13:06 -0400 (EDT) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 10 congregations and religious organizations and 39 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. May 25, 1997 The Philadelphia Inquirer PO Box 8263 Phila., PA 19101 Dear Editors: The recent Associated Press story about the Christian Coalition's support for the Istook Amendment, which would overturn the religious sections of the First Amendment, failed to note the broad religious support for our existing constitutional protections. Two quotes in particular caught our attention. The first was from Carol Shields of People For the American Way, who discussed the harm to religious minorities that would result from passage of the new amendment. This significantly understates the problem. In the United States we are all religious minorities. Most people are affiliated with religions that refer to themselves as "Christian," but there are major disagreements between the different branches on theological issues that would be seriously exacerbated should government agencies start sanctioning group prayers during official business. To realize how quickly official religious observance can cause a public nightmare, one need only look back to the mid- nineteenth century riots in Philadelphia over which version of the Bible should be used in the public schools, or the more recent case in Mississippi, in which a Lutheran family was accused of devil worship because they objected to Baptist-specific prayers over the school public address system. The second quote was from Rep. Istook himself, who said that he did not intend for his amendment to lead to the regular reading of prayers by teachers. It is frightening that a man whose primary legislative claim to fame is the constant introduction of constitutional amendments does not understand that the law is interpreted on the basis of what it actually says. The current system protects every child from coerced participation in the religion of their teachers if they choose to be so protected. Mr. Istook's proposed ammendment actively prevents that protection from being afforded. Americans enjoy far more religious freedom than people in countries which do not recognize the role that church-state separation plays in assuring the citizens religious liberty. We join people of many faiths across the country in praying that this delicate balance will be preserved. 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.