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Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania Newsletter
Issue 15: Mid April, 2010
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TIA-PA Meetings
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Ethical and Religious Problems in the American Economy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 7:00pm
Spector Room
The Jewish Community Center
3301 North. Front St.
The April program of The Interfaith Alliance will consider ethical and religious problems in the American economy. Michael Aves, an investment advisor in Mechanicsburg, will discuss his conclusions concerning the moral requirements for an efficient and effective economy as lessons learned from Wall Street's role in the current recession. Deacon Dr. Paul Schenck will discuss the Pope's recent encyclical, Caritas in Veritate ("Charity in Truth"). Deacon Schenck grew up in a business family and has a personal interest in the interface of business concerns and moral values of religious people.
Come join us for a fascinating and probing discussion of these vital, current issues at 7 pm on April 27th in the Spector Room of the Jewish Community Center at 3300 N. Front Street in Harrisburg.
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Of Local Interest
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Interfaith Contemplative Retreat
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Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development, a sponsor of many Christian-based contemplative retreats, recently approached Rabbi Carl Choper of The Interfaith Alliance about co-leading an interfaith contemplative retreat. The resulting day-long retreat will be held on Friday, April 30, 2010 in the Harrisburg area.
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Second Annual Commonwealth Interfaith Service
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Commonwealth Interfaith Service
Monday, May 3, 2010, 5:30pm
Pine St. Presbyterian Church
310 N. 3rd St.
Harrisburg, PA, 17102
Planning has begun for the second annual Commonwealth Interfaith Service: Prayers for Justice and Peace.
The service will take place on Monday, May 3, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 North 3rd Street in Harrisburg, and will be followed by a reception sponsored by the church. Come early and hear the healing music of the musical group "Three Twelve."
The service is timed to coincide with the week of the annual National Day of Prayer, and intended to emphasize how much of a multi-faith society Pennsylvania and America have become. Religion truly holds a very important place in our society, and we are one of the most religiously diverse societies in the world. William Penn, perhaps could not have envisioned how far his Holy Experiment would grow, but he would certainly be thrilled.
The service is designed so that representatives of many different faith perspectives can offer music and prayers in the words of their own particular tradition, after which we will all participate in a prayer litany voiced in very inclusive language. In keeping with our strong sense of separation of religion and state, the service will be held in a house of worship. We are inspired by the fact that the particular church - Pine Street Presbyterian - has been very supportive of our efforts, and is one of several churches located within sight of the Statehouse.
Convened by The Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania, and sponsored by:
Blue Mountain Lotus Society; Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area; Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania; Harrisburg Jewish Community Relations Council; Harrisburg Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends; Institute for Cultural Partnerships; InterReligious Forum of Greater Harrisburg; Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg; Lancaster Theological Seminary; Lebanon Valley College; Lower Susquehanna Synod, ELAC; Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania; Messiah College; Metropolitan Community Church of the Spirit; Pax Christi; Pennsylvania Council of Churches; Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition; Pine Street Presbyterian Church; Religion and Society Center; Spiritual Assembly of Baha`'i`s of Harrisburg; Unitarian Church of Harrisburg; United Methodist Advocacy in Pennsylvania.
It would add to the celebration of our multi-faith society if there were other regional Commonwealth Interfaith Services being held in other parts of the state. If you would be interested in convening one, please contact us. To help you get started, we will connect you to to other people we know in your region, and share with you the plans and guidelines that we have developed for our own use.
For additional information about interfaith opportunities please call:
Rabbi Carl Choper at (717) 724-0353, or
Rev. Sandra Strauss at (717) 545-4761
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Across the State
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Congratulations! You Had a Victory in Marriage Equality
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Two years ago the Judiciary Committee of the Senate voted 10 to 4 to amend the Pennsylvania constitution by defining marriage as between one man and one woman. This year, shortly after the set of events for Freedom to Marry Week, PA, in which TIA-PA was a primary supporting organization, the same judiciary committee voted 8 to 6 against the same proposed amendment. This is a huge change. A few years ago such a result could not even have been imaginable - and you have been part of that change!
Another new development is a civil union bill in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to create a state level civil union in which same-sex couples could gain all of the same state benefits as married couples. Civil unions fall short of marriage equality in a few ways, such as Federal benefits, employer "marriage" benefits, and the creation of a second-class citizen status, but they are a step in the right direction.
You can find your Pennsylvania House representative at http://www.pasen.gov [in the top right hand corner, enter your fill zip code - you can also click "help" to look up your full zip code], and then CALL and ask him or her to co-sponsor Pennsylvania's new Civil Union bill, currently being circulated by Representative Mark Cohen. While this bill, if it were to become law, will help with state issues such as the inheritance tax, it would not help in the case of Federal issues, such as Social Security. And it is still a government sanctioned discrimination by having one set of laws for gays and lesbians, and another set of laws for heterosexuals.
You can also find your Pennsylvania Senator at http://www.pasen.gov/, and then CALL and ask him or her to co-sponsor SB 935, Senator Daylin Leach's bill for Marriage Equality.
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Take Action
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| The Interfaith Alliance of PA is Going Statewide!
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We have great news! The Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania is going statewide. During our five years of existence, we have had many successes from our Harrisburg base:
* We are planning our fifth annual Commemorate September 11 program in coordination with the Muslim Community.
* We are planning our second annual Commonwealth Interfaith Prayer Service event at Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg. Mark you calendar for May 3, 2010, at 5:30 PM.
* We have been successful in fighting against numerous instances of intolerance, bigotry and hatred.
* We have joined with a large number of groups to support legislation advancing the cause of religious liberty, and to oppose legislation which would increase intolerance and hatred.
Please help us go statewide. Print, fill out, and mail the sheet on the next page, as it will tell us how you wish to be a part of our efforts. Of course, you can always email your responses to us, and contribute through PayPal below.
You will also have an opportunity to support us financially. If you have given us a contribution before we thank you, and we thank you, as well, in advance for this support. It is important that everyone who supports religious liberty joins with us. We are asking for a dues/contribution for 2010 of $25.00 or more.
Thanks for your support. As a fellow Pennsylvanian, Benjamin Franklin, a strong supporter of religious liberty, said at the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
-Carl S. Choper
President
The Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania
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The Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania
____ I would like to be notified how i can help support religious liberties in my community. (e.g., by contacting my local legislator or writing a letter to the editor of my local newspaper.)
____ I live in the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg or Lehigh Valley areas and would like to be notified of the formation of community TIA-PA networks forming in my area.
Listed below are my ideas for supporting religious liberty:
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Mail to: The Interfaith Alliance of PA ~ 3211 North Front Street, Suite 104 ~ Harrisburg, PA 17110-1342
Make checks payable to The Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania
Enclosed is my check for 2010 dues/contribution in the amount of:
( ) $1,000 ( ) $500 ( ) $100 ( ) $25 ( ) Other $ ____
Name(s): ________________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: __________________________________________________________________
Phone: ( ) ________________________ Email: _____________________________________
TIA-PA is a 501 (c)(3) organization; your contribution is entirely tax-deductible.
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Health Care Reform
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Talk Back
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| Feedback and Input
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TIA-PA Goal/Mission Statement:
To create an interfaith movement in Pennsylvania where citizens committed to the American values of justice, equality and compassion are encouraged to speak out in support of issues and policies which promote that vision.
To create politically resonant religious language derived from that progressive social vision, and engage our community by restoring that language into the larger society.
Are there issues and events happening in your area? Tell us about them so we can share with others. Have ideas on programs and events you'd like to see? Share your thoughts so we can collaborate.
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| Contact Information
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phone: 717-724-0353
This e-newsletter is produced and sponsored by BoltMap, Inc (717) 564-2477
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DONATE
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Support The Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania
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HELP PROTECT BOTH FAITH AND FREEDOM IN PENNSYLVANIA
2010 is well underway. Please help us continue to advocate for a stronger multi-faith society. Our Board has decided to ask for voluntary contributions rather than asking for a flat annual dues amount. You can support us on-line using the DONATE option on TIA-PA.org, or here:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8124595
The Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania
3211 N. Front St., Suite 104
Harrisburg, PA 17110
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