From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Austin TX lifestyle/orientation/religious liberty Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 23:08:43 -0400 (EDT) August 11, 1998 Austin American-Statesman 305 S. Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78767 Dear Editors: We were confused by Alanna Verhaalen's letter of August 9. First, not all Christians believe that homosexuality is inherently sinful; and second, what does it mean to defend yourself against a lifestyle, or to defend a belief against things you know to be wrong? Sexual orientation is not the same as lifestyle; neither orientations nor lifestyles attack anything; and nobody is being forced to live a lifestyle they didn't choose, although there is a concerted national ad campaign attempting to convince everyone to live as a heterosexual conservative Christian. We still have Constitutional guarantees of freedom of belief and the exercise of religion; nobody is being forced to believe anything, including the idea that homosexuality is the moral equivalent of heterosexuality (although that idea is becoming more popular). The only limitation on the free exercise of our beliefs is when our beliefs require that we abridge the rights of others. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 16 congregations and organizations and 59 clergy from 16 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. -- 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.