From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Progressive Letter Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 00:16:51 -0500 (EST) November 21, 1998 The Progressive 409 East Main Street Madison, WI 53703 Dear Editors: Thank you for your December Comment, "Preachers of Hate." We agree with your assessment of the danger, the need to distinguish between those preaching hate and their followers, and your call for all of us to organize peacefully. We believe that in this particular struggle, people of faith have a special responsibility to speak out against hate and to articulate why we support gay rights, reproductive freedom and separation of church and state. One of the reasons that James Kennedy, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Lou Sheldon, and Gary Bauer have a following is that their followers are not regularly exposed to competing ideas. We must continually exercise our first amendment rights in defense of freedom. 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 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.