From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Inquirer church/state/Coral Ridge/Urban Family Council Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 23:30:55 -0400 (EDT) July 26, 1998 The Philadelphia Inquirer PO Box 8263 Phila., PA 19101 Dear Editors: We are glad that Jane Eisner is uncomfortable about Pastor Van Z. Moore's suggestion that he use taxpayer money without government oversight. But if she is merely uncomfortable, it is doubtful that she has thought about the implications. If the contractors who got $25 million to fix the public housing high rises mentioned in her commentary had asked for the same deal, she would probably be outraged. Unfortunately Eisner's commentary confuses two separate stories: one about two theologically-similar congregations divided by racial, economic and geographic circumstances who overcome their differences to work and worship together; and another about these congregations insisting that the government should reinforce their theologically-based prejudices. Just because Pastor Moore explicitly stated that he would discriminate against sexual minorities in hiring, there is no guarantee that he would not find other moral grounds for discrimination, or that he would limit discrimination to hiring. The same standards--plus forced religious participation--could apply to those lined up at the soup kitchen, or waiting to get into a shelter. The least we should require of facilities and opportunities provided--or financed--by our government is that they are available to all. Earlier this year the Urban Family Council, which is supported by New Life Presbyterian, purchased full page ads in local newspapers urging City Council to discriminate against same-sex couples. Coral Ridge Ministries, the largest congregation in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), just organized a $600,000 national ad campaign designed to encourage legalized discrimination against sexual minorities. The following week, Pastor Moore (in partnership with New Life Presbyterian, also a PCA church), tells Eisner he wants to hire workers with government money and discriminate against sexual minorities. Eisner says there is "no assurance he would be successful" in raising private monies. That same Sunday morning there is an announcement from Coral Ridge that they are raising $300,000 to discredit the ACLU, which works on anti-discrimination and church-state separation cases. Plenty of money is available to encourage discrimination; less so for soup kitchens. It's all a question of priorities. Turning government functions over to religious groups is the same as turning the government over to them; and it was exactly this kind of church rule that so many people came to this country to escape. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 16 congregations and organizations and 59 clergy from 16 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.