From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG SW Times Record Homosexuality/Bible/Church/State letter Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 23:16:01 -0500 (EST) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and organizations and 54 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. January 25, 1998 Southwest Times Record Box 1359 Fort Smith, AR 72902 Dear Editors: We have been reading the debate in your pages over homosexuality and the Bible. As the United States is a religiously free country, religious people believe many different things. Sexual orientation is only one social issue on which people of faith in general, and Christians in particular, disagree. In fact, despite what some of your readers may think, a rapidly growing minority of religious people from many religious traditions do not believe that same-gender sexual relationships are any more inherently sinful than mixed-gender sexual relationships. However. whatever your religious beliefs may be, the only document that should ultimately determine the legal rights of any United States citizen is the Constitution of the United States, not scriptures of any faith. 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.