Subject: IWG Washington Post Ten Commandments Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 23:16:37 +2000 (EDT)

July 30, 1999

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

Dear Editors:

In his July 18 commentary, Dennis Teti said the US
House passed a bill "that would allow states to
display the Ten Commandments in public places," but
contends the bill is Constitutional because it "does
not mandate or even encourage Ten Commandments
displays."  That's not the point.  The House singled
out a religious document (half of which is devoted to
rules governing religious observance) to be the only
one which may be displayed in public buildings.  If
officially favoring one religious document over all
others is not a violation of the establishment clause
of the First Amendment, then what is?  

Since there are (at least) three numbering schemes
for the Commandments, as well as different
translations of the Bible, we also wonder who will
determine whether a posted document is a valid
version of the Commandments.  How might a Protestant
judge rule on the legality of a Roman Catholic or
Jewish version of the Commandments?  What if school
officials start changing parts they don't like?  Do
we want judges and principals making theological
decisions?  That was exactly what the establishment
clause of the First Amendment was designed to
prevent.  

While it is true that expecting the courts to strike
down a bill is not a good reason to vote against it,
each member of Congress swore to uphold the
Constitution, and should recognize when a piece of
legislation is blatantly unconstitutional. 

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,
[email-masked]                      reproductive freedom, and the 
voice: 215-235-3050  fax: 232-0829      separation of church and state.

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