From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Providence Boy Scouts Letter Date: Sun, 26 Apr 1998 00:05:43 -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. April 24, 1998 The Providence Journal-Bulletin 75 Fountain Street Providence, RI 02902 Dear Editors: In his April 20 letter, Stewart G. Hall assumes that one cannot be gay and repeat the Boy Scout oath. The oath does not say, "I am only attracted to women," it says that the individual will do his best to be morally straight. Given the lack of detail in the oath, and the Scouts' apparent willingness to work with people from a variety of theistic religious traditions, it would seem that the definition of "morally straight" should be a matter between the Scout, his religious institution, and his God, and there are certainly many religious institutions that do not see an inherent conflict between morality and non-heterosexual orientations. The fact that the scouting oath is written so an 11-year-old can understand it does not mean every 11-year-old from every religious tradition is going to understand it the same way. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators -- 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.