Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 20:22:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: IWG Washington Post Boy Scouts Letter
From: iwg@iwgonline.org


August 19, 1999

The Washington Post
1150 15th Street NW
Washington, DC 20071

Dear Editors:

George Will glossed over at least three important
points in his column about the New Jersey Supreme
Court and the Boy Scouts of America.  First and
foremost, while the Boy Scouts' policy is consistent
with the beliefs of many of the congregations that
sponsor troops, it is also inconsistent with the
beliefs of some sponsoring congregations.  Which
leads to the second point: The Scouts' selectivity is
not explicit, since the phrase "morally straight" is
an ambiguous phrase with many possible
interpretations.  Finally, the laws defining public
accommodations in New Jersey and the laws banning
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by
public accommodations are real laws, not just a
matter of "judicial authoritarianism."

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 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
http://www.iwgonline.org
iwg@iwgonline.org
voice: 215-235-3050
fax: 215-232-0829