Subject: IWG Washington Times Scouts letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 23:40:24 -0400 (EDT)

August 9, 1999

Washington Times
3600 New York Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20002

Dear Editors:

	Your editorial about the discriminatory policies
of the Boy Scouts of America was completely
backwards.  We support the right of private and
religious organizations to set their own standards
for membership (although we strongly encourage them
not to discriminate on the basis of sexual
orientation or identity).  It is just common sense
that it is the Boy Scouts (an organization that
claims a high level of religious diversity), and not
the New Jersey Supreme Court, who are unwilling to
entertain the notion that reasonable people,
especially reasonable religious people, might
disagree on the morality of same-gender
relationships.   

But what was before the court was a legal question,
which was whether the Boy Scouts were a public
accommodation or a private religious organization. 
Those who favor school vouchers for religious
schools, and religious institutions participating in
government should take note: when you become
entangled with the public sector you are subject to
public oversight.  The Scouts haven't been shut down
by the court or been denied the right to associate. 
They should either decide to function like a true
private religious organization, or else they should
end their discriminatory practices. 

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                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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