From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Topeka Kansas Letter Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 22:44:48 -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 10, 1997 Topeka Capital-Journal 661 NE Jefferson Street Topeka, KS 66607 Dear Editors: Fred Phelps must be aware of the fact that others disagree with him about God's opinion about sexual orientation, or he would not feel compelled to prevent such people from worshipping, and even grieving, as they see fit. We were not surprised to hear that Mr. Phelps is not interested in conforming to public opinion, since his habit of disrupting church services and funerals is certainly not in the mainstream of religious belief, nor in the tradition of American religious tolerance. For the moment, his belief in heterosexual supremacy does put him in the majority of American religious thought. The congregations and denominations that have risked ostracism in the religious community to stand up for the rights of the oppressed do so because they believe that it is the moral thing to do, not because they are trying to be popular. 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.