Subject: IWG PGN LP Coverage Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 3 May 1998 23:43:06 -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.

May 2, 1998

Philadelphia Gay News
505 S. 4th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147

Dear Editor:

Thank you for the many religious pieces in the April 24
issue.  Unfortunately your coverage of the life
partnership hearings did not adequately reflect the
overwhelm-ing amount of religious support there was for
the bills in addition to Bishop Bennison.  Rev. Barry
Harte read a letter from Lutheran Bishop Roy Almquist,
and there was testimony from the American Jewish
Congress, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations,
Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting, Dignity/Philadelphia,
two Reconstructionist rabbis, two Unitarian
Universalist pastors, a Disciples of Christ minister, a
Metropolitan Community Church minister, an Episcopal
priest, and Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist pastors.  

However, our hope is, ultimately, that Council will
decide the fate of the bills based on the law, and not
theology.  As we concluded in our official statement
regarding this debate, which has now been endorsed by
eight religious organizations, eight congregations, and
seventy-seven individual clergy from sixteen religious
traditions: "The Mayor and City Council are charged
with doing what is best for the health and welfare of
all people in Philadelphia, not forcing the religious
tenets of some city residents on all her citizens." 

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.

Sunday, May 31, 4 pm, First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, 21st and Walnut
Marching in the Light benefit concert http://www.libertynet.org/iwg/concert.html