Subject: IWG LA Times religious liberty letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 1 Aug 1998 22:58:16 -0400 (EDT)

August 1, 1998

Los Angeles Times
Times Mirror Square
Los Angeles, CA 90053

Dear Editors:

While the ad from Exodus and other politically-
oriented religious organizations that appeared in your
paper was ostensibly aimed at the conversion of sexual
minorities, it also spoke directly against the notion
of religious liberty, which was fundamental in the
founding of this nation, and is stated so eloquently
in the First Amendment.  We can't talk about sin as a
nation because the sin is by definition an inherently
religious concept and United States citizens come from
thousands of religious traditions.  

Our ability to live in peace and religious diversity
isn't a weakness, it's a strength that makes us the
envy of the world.  There are many, many theological
issues that Christians and other people have faith
have disagreed over.  Do we want a national debate on
baptism, or tithing, or Jesus' mother Mary, or the
nature of Jesus, or religious dietary laws, or the
ordination of women, or what happens to bread and wine
during communion, or eternal life vs. reincarnation,
or faith healing, or which day the sabbath should be
observed?  We've been handling these debates for over
200 years with great success by letting people decide
for themselves what the truth is, and to believe or
not believe as they see fit.  That's the American way.  

It's religious liberty that allows congregations and
clergy from many religious traditions, including
Christianity, to stand together in support of the
lives and rights of sexual minorities.  The truth is
that no matter what sexual orientation you are, you
have the right to believe what you want, and to be
religiously observant or not. And if you are gay
there's a congregation or religious support group out
there that understands you, and is ready to welcome
you, and stand by you, just as you are.  

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
[email-masked]                      and clergy supporting gay rights,
http://www.libertynet.org/iwg/          reproductive freedom, and the 
215-235-3050                            separation of church and state.