Subject: IWG NY Times Marriage/church/state/diversity letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998 23:43:12 -0400 (EDT)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and
organizations and 56 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.

April 18, 1998

The New York Times
229 W. 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036

Dear Editors:

Thank you for your excellent April 17 article about
religious marriages for same-gender couples, which
clearly demonstrated the diversity of religious
thought on the issue.  However, since the issue of
civil marriage was raised in the article, and the
notions of religious and civil marriage have become
hopelessly entangled both in the minds of the public
and in the laws of many states, it would have been
helpful to more clearly delineate each religious
body's position on both religious and civil marriage,
which are two separate institutions.  

The only denomination whose support for both
religious and civil marriage was discussed was the
Unitarian Universalist Association; other religious
bodies support both, and some have endorsed civil
marriage but are still struggling with, or have
chosen to ignore, religious ceremonies.  Ultimately,
every religious group will be free to decide for
itself whether to recognize the marriages of same-
gender couples, just as they are free now to refuse
to marry interfaith couples, couples where one person
has been divorced, or just those who are not members. 
However, civil marriage is a civil right which should
be available to adult, single, consenting, non-blood
relatives without consideration of gender or the
vagaries of current religious thought.

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.