Date: Sun, 06 Aug 2000 22:45:16 -0400 From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Everett WA Marriage and Religious Liberty letter August 6, 2000 Everett Herald Box 930 Everett, WA, 98206 Dear Editors: Jan Brock’s August 4 letter about marriage did not include two very important facts. The framers of the Constitution, regardless of their personal beliefs or the opinion of Cicero, left us with a governing document that does not mention God, Creator, or Christ, and only mentions religion three times: the prohibition of religious tests for elected office in Article VI, the prohibition of establishment in Amendment I, and the guarantee of individual free exercise in Amendment I. These three clauses, combined with Amendment XIV, which extended Constitutional liberties to cover state laws, have guaranteed United States citizens an unprecedented level of religious liberty. As a result, this religious liberty has led to a high level of religious diversity in both practice and belief, including a growing belief among people of many religious traditions that same-gender relationships are morally and ethically equivalent to mixed-gender relationships, and entitled to the same degree of religious blessing and legal recognition. Sincerely, Barbara Lamond Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter was sent on IWG letterhead listing 22 congregations and religious organizations and 65 clergy from 16 religious traditions. For more letters visit http://www.iwgonline.org/letters/ -- Interfaith Working Group PO Box 11706 Philadelphia, PA 19101 http://www.iwgonline.org/ iwg@iwgonline.org voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 215-232-0829