Subject: IWG Philadelphia Inquirer Church/State letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 23:47:50 -0500 (EST)

December 26, 1998

The Philadelphia Inquirer
PO Box 8263
Phila., PA 19101

Dear Editors:

Linda Chavez claims that unless symbols of Christianity
(and perhaps Judaism) are displayed by all levels of
government during December, then she is being
persecuted.  Anyone who reads the Inquirer's Living
Religion section will immediately see the problem
inherent in this argument.  People of other faiths also
celebrate holidays during December and could claim
persecution based on a lack of explicit endorsement
(Chavez complains about the inclusion of the Winter
Solstice in a municipal holiday display).  And is there
any reason why we should be limit government
endorsement to December holidays? Some Christians
celebrate Christmas on January 6, and many faiths have
more important holidays at other times. Chavez may soon
be claiming that she is being persecuted unless the
government conducts official ceremonies around Easter
and Pentecost, with a possible nod to Passover. Unless
Chavez is planning on explicitly forbidding government
celebration of some religions, then eventually
governments will be tied up supporting all the major
holidays of all branches of the Christian, Jewish,
Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha'i and Wiccan traditions.
Or we could just do it the American way, leave
government out of religious celebrations and let
religious institutions, individuals and businesses
celebrate, or not celebrate, the holidays of their
choice in the manner of their choosing. 

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 
voice: 215-235-3050  fax: 232-0829      separation of church and state.