From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Wall Street Journal, ad letter Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 23:20:34 -0400 (EDT) July 20, 1998 Wall Street Journal 200 Liberty St. New York, NY 10281 Dear Editors: We were saddened by the Religious Right advertisements that appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today. The organizations who financed the ad of course have the right to speak out, just as other people have a right to criticize them. Both are aspects of free speech, a fact ignored in the third ad, which claims to be in defense of free speech. However, these ads are not in the best tradition of American debate; they attack an entire segment of society with charges (such as recruiting children in the schools) that could just as easily be leveled at the groups who financed them. One religion is present not as a good choice, not even as the best choice, but as the only possible choice, in effect accusing everyone else of living a lie. And those who bought the ads are limiting debate of the subject in the same forum to those who can afford the $200,000 entrance fee. The ads also deny the existence of people of many faiths, gay and straight, who disagree with the notion that homosexuality is more sinful than heterosexuality. Press releases and statements from the purchasers of the ads used militaristic language about a "culture war," which belies the somewhat conciliatory wording of the ads. This war is only in the minds of those who purchased the ads. The rest of us see only a struggle for equal treatment under the law, for peaceful coexistence, for free exercise of religion, and for basic civility, none of which are an impediment to the survival of American culture. 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.