Subject: IWG Inquirer Religious Freedom Amendment Church/State
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 23:18:04 -0500 (EST)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and
organizations and 53 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.

March 3, 1998

The Philadelphia Inquirer
PO Box 8263
Phila., PA 19101

Dear Editors:

Thank you for publishing Rev. James W. Watkin's
February commentary on House Joint Resolution 78 (the
Religious Freedom Amendment).  Rather than increase
religious freedom, passage of this amendment would
produce church/state entanglement on a monumental
level, and endanger the religious freedom that is
unique to our country.

On the same day, you published a perfect illustration
of Rev. Watkin's commentary; the story concerning the
decision by the government of the town of Truth or
Consequences, NM to declare 1998 the Year of the Bible,
and to encourage the reading of the New Testament by
all citizens. The fact that the city government would
pass such a resolution and that it has received
overwhelming support demonstrates that Americans are
not lacking in religious fervor.  

The subsequent harassment of religious minorities (who
would understandably be reluctant to seek redress from
a government which backed the idea in the first place)
in that town demonstrates that equality under the law
is endangered when the government indicates that it
favors one religion.  There was no need for government
involvement; the community churches could have made the
declaration themselves, encouraged people to put up
signs, and given the Bibles away without the official
stamp of city government.  This story is a prime
example of why the Religious Freedom Amendment is a bad
solution to a non-existent problem.

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

-- 

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.