Subject: IWG Church/State Inquirer Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 9 May 1999 09:20:15 -0400 (EDT)

May 8,1999

The Philadelphia Inquirer
PO Box 8263
Philadelphia, PA 19101

Dear Editors:

	Religious organizations have no business becoming
political players, major or otherwise.  We agreed not
to endorse political candidates in exchange for being
tax-deductible and tax-exempt, like all other
non-profit organizations.  When religious
organizations become involved in the election of
candidates, rather than focusing on stating their own
beliefs, they are in danger of losing their moral
authority, as well as alienating their membership. 
And when elected officials start feeling that they are
in debt to a particular religious group, everyone's
religious liberty is threatened.  

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and
organizations and 61 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,
[email-masked]                      reproductive freedom, and the 
voice: 215-235-3050  fax: 232-0829      separation of church and state.

Sunday May 16, 1999 5pm. Marching In the Light: IWG Benefit Concert. Old
First Reformed Church. 4th and Race, Philadelphia, PA.  See the web page.