Subject: IWG Star-Tribune - interpreting vs. Quoting
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 1998 23:28:31 -0500 (EST)

December 5, 1998

Star Tribune
425 Portland Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55408

Dear Editors:

We were impressed by Frank Reilly's analysis of the
disagreements in the Roman Catholic Church over
homosexuality.  His analysis could have been applied
with very little modification to many of the Protestant
denominations.  However, we objected to the implication
that those who do not believe homosexual acts are
inherently immoral are "interpreting" scripture, while
those who do believe that all homosexual acts are
immoral are "quoting" scripture.  Much of the Bible, in
fact, requires interpretation for understanding.  In
particular, the passages that are usually used to
condemn sexual minorities are not especially clear, and
to claim that they are universally anti-gay does
require interpretation.

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 
215-235-3050                            separation of church and state.