From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Provo, God, Homosexuality, and the State Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 22:38:47 -0500 (EST) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and organizations and 53 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. March 8, 1998 Provo Daily Herald Box 717 Provo, UT 84604 Dear Editors: Paul Kelly [letter, March 3], says that he would not be a true friend if he were to condone or rationalize acceptance of a practice which is contrary to nature and nature's God. This is a very reasonable position, if Mr. Kelly realized that different individuals and groups may or may not care about God, and those that do care frequently disagree about the nature of God and what God wants. Mr. Kelly also says that "once we accept that homosexuality is wrong" we will agree with him on the correct outcome of the Wendy Weaver case and the Salt Lake City antidiscrimination policy vote. But not everyone does accept that homosexuality is wrong. In fact many people of faith believe that there is no moral difference between homosexuality and heterosexuality. If Mr. Kelly really wants to be a "true friend" to sexual minorities that he knows and encourage them to work toward what he believes is a "moral, wholesome, and happy lifestyle," then he should do so, but that is private issue that need not involve the state. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators -- Interfaith Working Group Religious organizations, congregations iwg@libertynet.org and clergy supporting gay rights, http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/ reproductive freedom, and the 215-235-3050 separation of church and state.