NM R.A.I.N. Presents Forum to Contrast Religious Right

From New Mexico R.A.I.N. and Equality NM:
The New Mexico Religious Alliance for Inclusion and Non-Discrimination (R.A.I.N), composed of leaders of New Mexico's Faith community will host a forum on December 8th where the subject will be "Living Faith." Members of New Mexico's clergy will give a historical and theological presentation on scripture to debunk the prevailing information used by the religious right to justify hate and discrimination against members of the Gay Community in the United States. The forum will feature various elected officials including Representative Danice Picraux, Councilor Martin Heinrich, and Senator Linda Lopez. 

The forum will be held at St. Michaels and All Angels Church (601 Montaño Rd., NW) in Albuquerque on December 8th, 2005 from 7-8:15 PM. 

"At our first meeting, we had over 300 people. The momentum is growing and we are beginning to change the direction of the debate. No longer will people have to suffer discrimination in silence or in the name of the Lord. We are making RAIN in New Mexico and people are paying attention," stated Rabbi Joe Black of Congregation Albert. 

New Mexico R.A.I.N. was formed out of the exclusionary and hate filled debate that dominated the last US Presidential Election. A single religious position has dominated media attention and leaders of NM's faith communities are expressing a different point of view: the belief that faith and religion is based on 4 major tenets: Tradition, Scripture, Reason and Experience and not discrimination and exclusion. 

"We will present the facts without bias or individual interpretation. We want to counter the hate filled debate carried out in the name of faith. We would like to show that our faith traditions are meant to unify and not divide. We strongly feel that targeting of specific groups for discrimination is in contrast to the Biblically mandated principle that we are all created in the image of God."

The organization has membership from throughout the state and includes lay and ordained members.

For More Information Contact:
Ellen Novak RAIN Co-Chair
Rev. Lee Albertson, RAIN Co-Chair (505) 265-5749
Rabbi Joe Black
Rev. Brian Taylor
NMRAIN@MAIL.COM