Subject: IWG Denver Lou Sheldon/Fred Phelps letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 22:58:59 -0400 (EDT)

April 12, 1999

Rocky Mountain News
400 W. Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80204

Dear Editors:

One might think, from reading your April 6 article
about Russell Henderson's trial, that the Traditional
Values Coalition had a strong interest in religious
inclusion of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals.  To
describe the Rev. Fred Phelps as an "anti-gay pastor"
without applying the same label to the Rev. Lou
Sheldon in the same sentence was neither fair nor
accurate.  The differences of opinion expressed by
Rev. Sheldon were purely theological.  The Traditional
Values Coalition and Westboro Baptist Church differ in
belief and practice, but they share many of the same
opinions about public policy and equal rights for
sexual minorities.  We sincerely doubt that Rev.
Sheldon would want to be labeled "pro-gay." And by
making it appear that he is, you do a great disservice
to religious bodies that really do both openly and
fully welcome sexual minorities and work for their
civil rights. 

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.