Subject: IWG Phila. Inquirer letter Abortion/Catholics/Church/State
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 23:32:39 -0500 (EST)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and
organizations and 54 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.

January 25, 1998

The Philadelphia Inquirer
PO Box 8263
Phila., PA 19101

Dear Editors:

	We have greatly appreciated the Living Religion
section since its inception, especially in its
successes in demonstrating the diversity of religious
opinion on social issues.  The January 25 debate
between Theresa and Kevin Burke and Catholics for Free
Choice president Frances Kissling was an especially
enlightening look at the theological disagreements
among Catholics over abortion.  However, while the
introductory paragraph noted the opposition to abortion
voiced by other religious groups, there was no notice
taken of the denominations which officially support a
woman's right to choose.  
	In addition, the article said that only 12% of
Catholics agree with the Church's stance that abortion
should be illegal in all circumstances.  That is a far
different question than whether an individual believes
that abortion is a moral option, which is what Ms.
Kissling and the Burkes were debating.  The only
obvious conclusions one can reach from the 12% figure
is that 88% of Catholics believe that in some
circumstances the state has no business interfering
with a woman's decision to have an abortion, and/or
that in the United States no religious body should be
setting law on the basis of theology, and should have
no power over any individual beyond the threat of
excommunication.   

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.