From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG CORRECTED Deseret News Christian Persecution letter Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 23:28:49 -0400 (EDT) PLEASE IGNORE THE PREVIOUS EMAILED VERSION OF THIS LETTER. June 19, 1998 Deseret News Box 1257 Salt Lake City, UT 84110 Dear Editors: Marianne M. Jennings' June 15 piece managed to paint a disheartening picture of religious intolerance, in which Christians are routinely threatened, denigrated, and excluded. She may very well believe that Terrance McNally is anti-Christian; she is entitled to her opinion. But she fails to note that the theater where McNally's play Corpus Christi was scheduled was not just threatened with pickets; there were numerous anonymous death threats and promises that the play would be shut down. These terroristic tactics make Frank Rich's calling the protesters "thugs" a little more understandable. But what was really disturbing in her list of anti- Christian incidents was the synopsis of Bishop Righter's book. Is the Bishop supposedly anti- Christian? Or is Jennings perhaps anti-Episcopalian? (Or does she just automatically discount all people of faith who disagree with her?) When Jennings contrasts gays with Christians she ignores the existence of all of those who are both gay and Christian. And when she claims that gay rights activists do not understand faith she insults those like Bishop Righter and people from many other religious traditions, both gay and straight, who became gay rights activists because of their faith. What better example of faith is there than a man who endured a heresy trial and the continued insults of people like Ms. Jennings for helping his fellow humans achieve some measure of dignity? The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 15 congregations and organizations and 58 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. 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.