Subject: IWG Phila. Inquirer - Church/State/Schools/Vouchers/Prayer
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 1999 23:17:46 -0400 (EDT)

June 19,1999

The Philadelphia Inquirer
PO Box 8263
Philadelphia, PA 19101

Dear Editors:

In answer to David Boldt's speculation as to why
anyone would oppose vouchers, we are specifically
bothered by the notion that public funds would go to
any institution that has attempted to influence
public policy to limit access to birth control and
prevent fairer treatment for sexual minorities. But
more importantly, we object to unconstitutional
taxpayer support for religious schools for many of
the same reasons that we object to organized school
prayer, the posting of the Ten Commandments (which
the House of Representatives voted for and which
authorities in Altoona are considering), or any other
government attempt to create an appearance of
religious conformity. Funding religious institutions
is a form of religious exercise; compelling any
citizen to fund someone else's religious
indoctrination is a violation of the Free Exercise
clause of the First Amendment.  The disbursement of
limited government funds to religious institutions,
like a declaration of an official religion, fosters
competition and strife among people of different
faiths, which is why we must vigorously defend the
First Amendment's Establishment clause.

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and
organizations and 65 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.