From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Naples FL church/state/gay rights letter Date: Sat, 1 Aug 1998 09:15:08 -0400 (EDT) July 31, 1998 Naples Daily News Box 7009 Naples, FL 33941 Dear Editors: The United States Constitution is not based on the principles of any one religion. Even if it were, it specifically forbids the establishment of an official religion, so the basic principles of Christianity should have no place in deciding how to interpret the Constitution. One reason we do not have an official religion is because there have always been many different Christian sects and denominations represented in the United States, whose members disagree on many theological issues. Over the years since the Constitution was ratified, there have been even more divisions and debates in Christianity, and steady growth in the number of people who practice religions other than Christianity. One of the major religious debates of recent years in almost all religions, including Christianity, has been over sexual orientation. The percentage of the population which believes that homosexuality is morally equivalent to heterosexuality has been rising, as has the larger percentage of the population who realize that all Americans are entitled to equal protection under the law, regardless of what we may think of their religious beliefs and practices, how they identify themselves, or who they choose to associate with, live with, or love. 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 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.