Subject: IWG NY Times Marriage Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1998 22:51:14 -0500 (EST)

November 8, 1998

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

Dear Editors:

	We find it very sad that a majority of the
voters in Alaska and Hawaii felt that the state
should be allowed to limit the legal status of a
committed relationship between two adults based
purely on gender.  We are also disturbed that
religious institutions like the Presbyterian Church
(USA) and the United Methodist Church, which have
good records supporting civil rights for all people,
have chosen to undermine that message by engaging in
protracted policy battles over whether clergy should
be permitted to bless the relationships of adults
who love and are committed to each other. 
Fortunately, as long as there are clergy like those
mentioned in the November 5 article who are willing
to recognize and promote love despite being warned
not to, there is still hope that fear and hatred
will not rule.  

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.