Subject: IWG Long Beach CA Marriage and Morality
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 23:33:45 -0500 (EST)

November 19, 1998

Long Beach Press-Telegram
604 Pine Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90844-0001

Dear Editors:

Marie Gallagher's column about the marriage vote in
Hawaii made some good points about positive
statements about social and moral values, but she
completely mischaracterized the marriage debate.  The
legal recognition of same-gender marriage would make
very positive moral and social points--that we as a
people value committed, caring relationships and that
we do not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual
orientation or religion. Ms. Gallagher is perfectly
free to make gender-based limitations on civil
marriage recognition sound like positive
reinforcement of social ideals, but no matter how
nicely she phrases her position, it is still legal
discrimination.

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 16 congregations and
organizations and 60 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.

-- 

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.