From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Fox Philadelphia Life Partners Vote Coverage Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 23:35:26 -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 7, 1998 John Mussoni The 10 O'Clock News Fox Philadelphia 4th and Market Philadelphia, PA 19106 Dear Mr. Mussoni: We were very disappointed by the coverage of the City Council votes on the Life Partnership bills. You reported that "gay activists" supported the bill and that "the religious community" opposed the bills. It would have been more accurate to say that "gay rights activists" (both gay and straight) supported the bills and to say that the religious community was divided. Two weeks earlier City Council heard testimony in favor of the bills from 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, as well as laity from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds. There was far more official religious testimony in favor of the bills than against, and a great number of supporters were not themselves gay or lesbian . In late March you received a statement from our organization that has now been endorsed by eight religious organizations, eight congregations, and seventy-eight individual clergy from seventeen religious traditions. In that statement we said, "We strongly disagree that fair and balanced economic treatment for all people, regardless of the genders of their life-partners, can in any way be 'destructive to our city's moral and social structure.' These proposals are not 'expanding the notion of family.' They are simply recognizing existing family structures that have been neglected by some religious institutions. The government already recognizes families that some faith-based groups do not, such as interfaith couples and spouses who have previously married and divorced, as well as same-gender couples wishing to adopt children. Many religious institutions also recognize same-gender couples as families." We were encouraged recently when Fox Philadelphia asked us for assistance in balancing statements from the religious community about Reggie White's comments, and as a result, interviewed Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale of the Christian Association at the University of Pennsylvania. We are always happy to assist you in achieving more accurate and balanced religious coverage of social issues. Please do not hesitate to call. 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