WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2009—Friday a group of prominent Christian clergy, ministry leaders and scholars released the Manhattan Declaration, which addresses the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and religious liberty. The 4,700-word declaration issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere to their convictions and informs civil authorities that the signers will not – under any circumstance – abandon their Christian consciences. Drafted by Dr. Robert George, Dr. Timothy George and Chuck Colson and signed by more than 125 Orthodox, Catholic and evangelical Christian leaders, the Manhattan Declaration is available at DeMossNews.com/ManhattanDeclaration.
The signers of the Manhattan Declaration who appeared at the press conference include:
Robert George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University
Donald William Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, Diocese of Washington, D.C.
Harry Jackson Jr., Bishop, Hope Christian Church
Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, Diocese of Philadelphia
Timothy George, Professor, Beeson Divinity School at Samford University
Chuck Colson, Founder, The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview
Ron Sider, Professor, Palmer Theological Seminary and Director of the Seminary’s Sider Center on Ministry & Public Policy
George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center and Founding President of the James Madison Foundation
Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council
Jim Daly, President and CEO, Focus on the Family
Fr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor, CEO and Archpriest, St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
Excerpts from the declaration include:
“We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences to affirm our right – and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation – to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence.”
“We recognize the duty to comply with laws whether we happen to like them or not, unless the laws are gravely unjust or require those subject to them to do something unjust or otherwise immoral.”
“. . . We will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriage or the equivalent or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family.”
I signed. Click on the logo at the top of this post to read more or to sign the Manhattan Declaration yourself.
I SINERELY APPLAUD THE GENTLEMEN WHO HAVE MADE THIS MANHATTEN DECLARATION PUBLIC. BILL TUCKER
WHEN WE ALL HANG TOGETHER IN CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD, WE DO NOT HAVE TO HANG SEPERATELY. BILL TUCKER
While the Declaration sounds great, many of the leaders have led Christians in compromising their principles so said “leaders” could keep their “place at the (GOP) table.” One of the most prominent signers, James Dobson, vowed many times not to support anyone who would take the life of even one innocent baby. Many of us took the same position. Given his track record on that vow, following him on a statement calling for civil disobedience to defend principles might leave one twisting in the wind.
It’s great to see Catholic/Orthodox and evangelicals getting together like this! I’ve signed too and posted about it on my FaceBook.
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