From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Inquirer Istook Coverage Date: Sun, 7 Jun 1998 23:25:50 -0400 (EDT) June 5, 1998 The Philadelphia Inquirer PO Box 8263 Phila., PA 19101 Dear Editors: We greatly appreciated your in depth and balanced coverage of the defeat of the Istook Amendment. We wonder, however, why you did not feel that an attempt to amend our religious freedom, even an attempt that failed by sixty-six votes, was not worthy of front page coverage or any pre-vote publicity. Philadelphians have an active and historical interest in the First Amendment. We are a religiously diverse people, living in the first city in a colony that was founded on the principle of religious liberty, and the city where the United States Constitution was ratified. Yet anyone who relies on the Inquirer for coverage of the issues could easily have missed the fact that a freedom we all take for granted was being seriously challenged in Congress. It is difficult to blame the public for being apathetic if the press fails to convey a sense of urgency or importance to critical debates. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 15 congregations and organizations and 58 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 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.