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Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania Newsletter
Issue 12: January 22, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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Upcoming TIA Events
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Discussion on Marriage Equality - Feb. 16, 2010
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On Tuesday, Feb. 16th, TIA-PA will host a discussion panel on the separation of church and state regarding the definition of marriage.
The discussion will cover legal & financial considerations, legislative issues, the "gay agenda," first hand accounts of discrimination and viewpoints from different faiths.
Leaders of the discussion will be:
Mary Catherine Roper.....................ACLU Staff Attorney
Zach Hoover.................................. ..Sen. Daylin Leach Office Staffer
Liz Bradbury.....................................Executive Director; PA Diversity Network
Rev. David Zwifka............................Episcopal Priest & Gay Activist
Ted Martin & Dwayne Heckert.......Legally Married in California
Rev. Howard Dana..........................Minister; Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
Dean Churchill Pinder.....................Dean; St. Stephens Episcopal Cathedral
David Messner.................................Lay Member; St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral
Rabbi Carl Choper..........................President; The Interfaith Alliance of PA
When: Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 7:00 pm
Where: Jewish Community Center
3301 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA
http://www.FreedomToMarryPA.org
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Take Action
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PA Progressive Summit - Jan 29 - 30, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Pennsylvania Progressive Summit is being billed as the largest, most dynamic gathering of progressive activists ever assembled in Pennsylvania. You can register today to join hundreds of field organizers, volunteers, bloggers, labor leaders, politicians and policy experts at the state and national level. TIA-PA is participating as part of our effort to connect with people from across the state, and to deepen the network of people of faith and goodwill with an active concern for the values of religious liberty, human dignity, and communal, as well as, individual responsibility. Please join us - and identify yourself to us if you see us there.
Already on the agenda are various workshops and a whole range of political and social leaders and candidates, including: Christ doherty, Joe Hoeffel, Tom KNox, Dan Onorato, Jack Wagner, Senator Arlen Spector, Congressman Joe Sestak, United Steelworkers International President Leo Gerard, and healthcare whistle-blower Wendell Potter.
Location:
Sheraton Harrisburg/Hershey Hotel
450 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA
Registration Required: $100
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| Freedom To Marry Week: Jan 30 - Feb 16, 2010
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The Freedom to Marry Rally in Harrisburg this year is being organized by a coalition of UUPlan, the PA Diverisity Network, the office of Senator Daylin Leach, the LGBT Center Coalition in Harrisburg, and TIA-PA. It has exploded into a whole slew of events designed to educate and demonstrate that marriage equality is a civil right and religious liberty issue. Events include:
- Jan 30: Session within the PA Progressive Summit
- Feb 6: Social Mixer & Drag Show: Miss Queen of Free Hearts
- Feb 7: Setup PDN Photo Project in the CAPITOL ROTUNDA!! For the Whole Week.
- Feb 8: Meet Your Senator and Representative
- Feb 8: Press Conference
- Feb 8: March & Rally
- Feb 9: Marriage Equality Debate with Sen. Daylin Leach
- Feb 11: Celebration of Faiths that Affirms Marriage Equality
- Feb 13: Central PA Womyn's Chorus Hosts V-Day Dinner & Dancing
- Feb 14: UU Blessing of Same-Gender Couples
- Feb 16: The Interfaith Alliance Hosts a Discussion on Marriage Equality
For all the details, see http://FreedomToMarryPA.org
or join the Facebook group "Freedom To Marry Rally - Harrisburg PA"
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Midtown Scholar Bookstore to Host Haitian Fundraiser
January 31, 2010
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The Midtown Scholar Bookstore will be hosting a benefit show for emergency relief aid in Haiti on Sunday, January 31, 2010, from 7:00pm to 9:00 pm. Entertainment will include performances by four bands as well as a silent auction. The public will be able to bid on goods and services donated from a wide selection of local business and organizations. All participants of the show have donated their time, money, and talents to draw a significant turnout. All proceeds are being donated directly to Partners an Health, ranked one of the top organizations in terms of helping the highest number of people with its efforts. PIH has been praised by the World Health Organization for its approach to medical care for the desperately poor, specifically for the people of Haiti. Admission is $5 at the door. The Midtown Scholar is located at 1519 North Front Street in Harrisburg, PA.
Further questions can be directed to Liz Laribee at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 717.713.1418.
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| Celebration of Faiths that Bless Same-Gender Marriage - Feb. 11, 2010
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On Thursday, Feb 11, 2010, as part of Freedom To Marry Week, Rabbi Carl Choper invites you to an Interfaith Celebration to create greater awareness of faiths that bless same-gender marriage. The event is hosted by St. Michael Lutheran Church, 118 State Street, Harrisburg. Clergy from many different religious beliefs will come together with song, prayer, food or ritual demonstration representing their faith. The celebration starts at 7:00 p.m. with a candlelight vigil to follow walking the two block length of State Street in Harrisburg.
Confirmed participants include:
Jewish............Rabbi Carl Choper
Lutheran ........Pastor Larry Hawkins
Unitarian........Rev. Howard Dana
Buddhist........Virginia Parkum
Wicca.............Lori Balazhi
Episcopal .....Dean Churchill Pinder
MCC..............Rev. Jennifer Glass
Other participants are welcome, Contact Bolton Winpenny, 717-564-2477 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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http://www.FreedomToMarryPA.org
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TIA National
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Religion on Fox - Reporting or Proselytizing?
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Rev. Welton Gaddy, National President of The Interfaith Alliance, wrote in his blog, "On Faith," concerning Fox News reporter Brit Hume and Tiger Woods:
"Speaking about Tiger Woods on "Fox News Sunday" January 3, 2010, Brit Hume observed that Mr. Woods' recovery "depends on his faith." Was that a personal opinion of the reporter, a theological belief, or a "breaking news" story? After telling his audience that Mr. Woods is a Buddhist, Hume said, "I don't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is (sic) offered by the Christian faith." Evidently the reporter has expertise in both Buddhist and Christian thought. With such self-assumed authority, Hume addressed Woods personally, "Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world."
Having served as a Christian minister for 50 years, I am delighted to see my faith discussed in public. However, I am not pleased to see my faith used in a utilitarian manner whether the issue is personal forgiveness or national politics. Unfortunately, the manipulation of faith has become so common that to many it now seems acceptable.
I have two problems with Mr. Hume's comments:"
Read on at:
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Firearms of Jesus Christ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph Rhee, Tahman Bradley and Brian Ross reported that an ABC News investigation has found that coded references to New Testament Bible passages about Jesus Christ are inscribed on high-powered rifle sights provided to the United States military by a Michigan company.
The sights are used by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the training of Iraqi and Afghan soldiers. The maker of the sights, Trijicon, has a $660 million multi-year contract to provide up to 800,000 sights to the Marine Corps, and additional contracts to provide sights to the U.S. Army.
U.S. military rules specifically prohibit the proselytizing of any religion in Iraq or Afghanistan and were drawn up in order to prevent criticism that the U.S. was embarked on a religious "Crusade" in its war against al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents.
Trijicon confirmed to ABCNews.com that it adds the biblical codes to the sights sold to the U.S. military.
Read more at:
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Talk Back
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TIA-PA January 2010 Monthly Program Meeting in Review
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The monthly program meeting of the Interfaith Alliance met on Tuesday, January 20, 2010, at the Jewish Community Center on N. Front Street to view Martin Doblmeier's acclaimed film, The Power of Forgiveness. From Northern Ireland to Ground Zero to the Amish countryside, featuring Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh, best selling authors Thomas Moore and Marianne Williamson, The Power of Forgiveness explores the impact which the ability to forgive has had on the lives of victims, as well as on the lives of perpetrators. As noted by Alexandra Asseily, founder of the Garden of Forgiveness in Beirut, Lebanon: "Forgiveness allows us to actually let go of the pain in the memory, and if we let go of the pain in the memory, we can have the memory, but it doesn't control us. When the memory controls us, we are then puppets of the past."
The intensity of the question and answer period which followed the showing of this film showed the impact it had on those who viewed it.
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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
As 2010 begins, we are off to a great start of a busy new year. 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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