From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Christian Science Monitor Marriage Letter Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 23:30:56 -0400 (EDT) July 20, 1999 Readers Write Christian Science Monitor 1 Norway Street Boston, MA 02115 Dear Editors: Your July 19 article about marriage was a reasonable and balanced summary, even if was slanted in favor of gender-bias in civil marriage laws. But Vincent McCarthy's closing comment that marriage "can't be modified without destroying it," is simply ridiculous. We have different marriage laws in all fifty states, different definitions of marriage in every religious tradition, and have significantly broadened civil marriage rights in the United States over the last half of this century. Civil marriage law has historically been used to legally encode notions of segregation and superiority. Today marriage is seen by many as the last line of defense for encoding the supposed supremacy of heterosexuality, and thus gender is described as the most important part of a common (but not universal) definition of an institution which is "the chief vehicle for passing on values in American society." Many religious organizations and people of faith see other values in marriage, and do not see gender as integral to the definition. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and organizations and 67 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 http://www.libertynet.org/iwg and clergy supporting gay rights, iwg@libertynet.org reproductive freedom, and the voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 232-0829 separation of church and state. Equality Summit - Promoting our values: Equality and Diversity. Thursday, July 22, 7 pm. 2125 Chestnut, Phila. http://www.libertynet.org/iwg/special.html