Date: Wed, 3 Apr 96 00:19 EST From: Maggie Heineman Subject: Pennsylvania Expose - April 3, 1996 (Alert) If you are receiving duplicates and want to be removed from the alias, please send back the header with (Alert) which tells me which alias you are on. If this is your only copy and you want to continue receiving it, please ask for the info file (see bottom of message) which explains this publication. /s/ Maggie =============================================================== Pennsylvania Expose - April 3, 1996 Pennsylvania Expose(X-Poz) is a project of the Fight the Right Network Communications Working Group & People for the American Way. ================================================================== A. Christian Coalition Split in Pennsylvania B. Interfaith Forum on Religion and Politics C. c.c.Watch Founder to Visit Pennsylvania D. Rabbis Support Freedom to Marry E. Calendar ================================================================= A. Christian Coalition Split in Pennsylvania Two Pennsylvania Christian Coalitions vying for conservatives' hearts, wallets -- by Jim Thompson, in the Erie Times News - Excerpts from a 2500 word story The Christian Coalition in Pennsylvania--on the brink of dissolution just a few weeks ago--has reorganized and can be expected to make a major effort to mobilize religious conservatives for the primary elections on April 23 and the presidential election in November. But now two organizations exist that could both end up seeking political and financial support from conservative religious factions in Erie County and throughout the state. An Erie-based organization that split from the national organization in December has changed its name to the Pennsylvania Coalition, dropping the word Christian, and will be involved in politics in more aggressive ways, even planning to openly back candidates in elections. But the national Christian Coalition is forming a new Pennsylvania unit to be called the Keystone Christian Coalition, totally separate from the Pennsylvania Coalition. Whether the two will be rivals--seeking funds and participation from the same conservative religious and cultural groups--or whether they will develop a friendly working relationship is a question that conversations with more than a dozen of the local participants didn't answer. One thing appears certain. At stake is the power and influence of the conservative political movement in Pennsylvania. ============================================================== B. Interfaith Forum on Religion and Politics SEPIA hosts Religion in Politics Forum by Brian Gocial, People for the American Way The Southeastern Pennsylvania Interfaith Alliance (SEPIA) will be hosting a forum, "The Role of Religion in American Politics and Public Life: Seeking A Balance," on Wednesday, April 10, in Doylestown. SEPIA is a non- partisan interfaith organization committed to promoting the positive role of religion in public life and providing an alternative voice to that of the radical religious right. SEPIA is challenging the growing tide of religious- based intolerance in our culture through various methods. It organizes public forums to explore diverse perspectives on issues of religious freedom and public policy; monitors local school boards; and distributes voter guides, SEPIA seeks to inform citizens about the threat of the religious right, both local, and across the nation. SEPIA acts on the belief that religion best contributes to public life when it works for reconciliation, inspires common effort, promotes concern for the less fortunate, and upholds the dignity of all human beings. To join SEPIA and learn more about the April 10th forum, call 610-828-1500. =========================================================== C. c.c.Watch Founder to Visit Pennsylvania c.c.Watch Founder in Pennsylvania May 18-20 by Maggie Heineman, Communications Working Group Paula Xanthopoulou, the founder and director of c.c.Watch, will be in Pennsylvania for a series of speaking engagements May 18-20. "c.c.watch" is a cutting edge electronic news service which tracks and reports on the activities of Pat Robertson, his many enterprises (especially the Christian Coalition) and his fellow travelers. Xanthopoulou is also a monthly columnist/reproter for the Freedom Writer magazine of the Institute for First Amendment Studies and is heard on talk radio. Xanthopoulou’s schedule will include visits to Erie, Philadelphia, and Montgomery County. The Erie Citizens Interfaith Council for Democracy (CICD) initiated the trip and interfaith groups in Philadelphia and Montgomery County have joined with the CICD in cosponsoring the visit. The Fight the Right Network will organize a Town Meeting for Saturday afternoon, May 18, in Philadelphia and a press conference on Monday afternoon, May 20. Xanthopoulou will speak in Montgomery County on Monday evening, May 20. On Sunday, May 19, she will be in Erie. Ralph Reed, Executive Director of the Christian Coalition will be in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on April 26, two days prior to the Lancaster Country SpeakOut. See Calendar notes for details and contact information. ========================================================= D. Rabbis Support Freedom to Marry Rabbis, local Columnist Support Freedom to Marry by Chris Purdom, Interfaith Working Group Same-sex marriage is getting a real boost in the local press, thanks to the efforts of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and a column in the Philadelphia Daily News by Debbie Woodell. The Rabbis, who invited representatives from the Philadelphia Freedom to Marry Coalition and Interfaith Working Group to speak before their Peace and Social Justice Committee about same-sex marriage and the most effective means of pushing the message, voted overwhelmingly to support civil same-sex marriage. They will not be addressing religious same-sex marriage until their next meeting, but it was reported that almost everyone in attendance, both for and against, agrees that support of civil marriage is a step toward approval of religious marriage. The support of such a large mainstream group (the Conference represents 1,760 Reform Rabbis) plus the loocation of the meeting in Philadelphia, led to coverage in both Philadelphia Daily papers and all the TV news shows. Pat Robertson followed his usual pattern of misnaming organizations he doesn't like, calling it Committee of Churches and Rabbis. Debbie Woodell, a columnist in the Philadelphia Daily News, who is a lesbian, wrote an excellent column in support of same-sex marriage on April 2. This follows on the heels of another excellent column she wrote about gay clergy. Letters to the Daily News in support of Ms. Woodell's columns are strongly encouraged. ============================================================== E. Calendar April 5 Friday--Gay & Lesbian Voters Guide availability. Contact Steve Black at 215.735.0852 or Chris Young at 412.421.4470--cycy@ri.cmu.edu. April 9 Tuesday--10:00 AM Rally to support HB 940, Campaign Finance Reform. Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg. Call Citizen Action at 215.592.4474. April 10 Wednesday--7:30 PM "The Role of Religion In American Politics & Public Life: Seeking A Balance." Panelists include US Congressman Jim Greenwood, former Congressman Peter Kostmayer, and Rev. Laine Hawxhurst. Doylestown Presbyterian Church. Call Southeast PA Interfaith Alliance at 610.828.1500. April 19 Friday--3:30 PM "Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error- featuring Jeff Cohen, Ex. Dir., FAIR. University of Pittsburgh, Frick Fine Arts Auditorium. --7:30 PM "Media Merger Mania and the Public Interest" featuring Jeff Cohen, Carnegie Mellon University, Doherty Hall, Rm 2315, Pittsburgh. Call Jan Neffke, Alliance for Progressive Action at 412.363.4410. April 20 Saturday--9 AM-1 PM "Healing the Wounds of Racism: Racial Reconciliation" Workshop. $20 members, $25 non-members, Bucks County Peace Centers. Call 215.750.7220 April 20 Saturday--10 AM-4 PM Philadelphia Freedom to Marry Conference. Featuring Evan Wolfson, Andrew Koppelman, and Lavi Soloway. Friends Meeting, 1515 Cherry Street. Philadelphia. --6:30 PM Interfaith service celebrating the institution of marriage. Featuring local artists performing traditional wedding music and Father Paul Washington giving the homily. Philadelphia, Tabernacle United Church 3700 Chestnut St. Call the Interfaith Working Group at 215-389- 1400 (box 2). April 26 Friday--Ralph Reed, Exec. Dir., Christian Coalition. Fund Raiser sponsored by Living Word Academy at the Host Farm Resort, Lancaster. $25.00 for the banquet, $50.00 includes private reception. If you wish to attend or to participate in the demonstration, contact Laura Montgomery Rutt at 717.581.1029- Lmrutt@postoffice.ptd.net. April 28 Sunday--2:00 PM Speaking Out & Speaking Up for Tolerance, Diversity & Equality, Lancaster Jewish Community Center. Featuring Barb DiTullio, Edd Doerr, Deanna Duby, Meg Riley, Bob Rose, and Allen Kukovich. Call Laura Montgomery Rutt, Alliance for Tolerance & Freedom at 717.581.1029 Lmrutt@postoffice.ptd.net. May 18-20 Paula Xanthopoulou of C.C.Watch. Saturday in Philadelphia, Sunday in Erie, Monday in Southeast PA. Call Maggie Heineman, Fight the Right Network at 215.389.1400 (Box 6)- maggie@critpath.org. ================================================================= Pennsylvania Expose - April 3, 1996 Pennsylvania Expose is published three times a month. It is based on postings to the pa-expose@critpath.org Internet mailing list and available as an e-letter or fax-letter. mail to: pa-expose-request@critpath.org in the body: info pa-expose Send news, and inquiries about faxletter distribution, to: ---FTRN Communications Working Group --- 215.389.1400 http://www.critpath.org/ftrn/ ---People for the American Way --- 800.326.7329 http://www.pfaw.org/ ==================== Permission to Repost ========================