From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Au Courant LP Hearings Coverage letter Date: Sun, 3 May 1998 23:41:29 -0400 (EDT) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and organizations and 56 clergy from 15 religious traditions. 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 2, 1998 Editor Au Courant PO Box 42741 Philadelphia, PA 19101-2741 Dear Editor: Your coverage of the City Council Life Partnership hearings captured the antagonism and grueling length of the debate extremely well. However, given the great detail you used in describing the religious nature of the opposition's testimony, it was surprising to us that you did not mention the fact that there was more religious testimony in favor of the bills than against. A large number of religious organizations and individual clergy members testified in favor of the bills, including the Episcopal and Lutheran Bishops, the American Jewish Congress, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting, Dignity/Philadelphia, two Reconstructionist rabbis, two Unitarian Universalist pastors, a Disciples of Christ minister, a Metropolitan Community Church minister, an Episcopal priest, and Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist pastors. However, our hope is, ultimately, that Council will decide the fate of the bills based on the law, and not theology. As we concluded in our official statement regarding this debate, which has now been endorsed by eight religious organizations, eight congregations, and seventy-seven individual clergy from sixteen religious traditions: "The Mayor and City Council are charged with doing what is best for the health and welfare of all people in Philadelphia, not forcing the religious tenets of some city residents on all her citizens." 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. Sunday, May 31, 4 pm, First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, 21st and Walnut Marching in the Light benefit concert http://www.libertynet.org/iwg/concert.html