Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience

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The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience is a manifesto issued by evangelical, Catholic and Orthodox Christian leaders to affirm support for the pro-life movement, opposition to same-sex marriage, and encouragement of civil disobedience against laws when they compel abortion and same-sex marriage. It was drafted on October 20, 2009 and released November 20, 2009, having been signed by more than 150 American religious leaders.[1]

The drafting committee includes evangelical leader Charles Colson, Princeton University professor Robert P. George and Beeson Divinity School dean Timothy George.

Notable signatories include New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Philadelphia Archbishop Justin Francis Rigali, Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, and American Cardinal John Patrick Foley of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, along with Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, president of Asbury Theological Seminary Timothy C. Tennent, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Al Mohler[2], chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary Chuck Swindoll, president of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Ligon Duncan[3], National Association of Evangelicals president Leith Anderson, primate of the Anglican Church in North America Robert Wm. Duncan, and Orthodox Church in America primate Jonah (Paffhausen), with Bishops Mark (Maymon) of Toledo and Basil (Essey) of Wichita of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.[4][5]

Some evangelicals, such as John F. MacArthur,[6] Alistair Begg,[7] and James R. White[8] have taken exception to the declaration on the grounds of its ecumenism. R.C. Sproul did not sign the Declaration because in his view it "confuses common grace and special grace by combining them."[9]

The Declaration summarizes itself as follows:

Because the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as a union of husband and wife and the freedom of conscience and religion are foundational principles of justice and the common good, we are compelled by our Christian faith to speak and act in their defense. In this declaration we affirm: 1) the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every human being as a creature fashioned in the very image of God, possessing inherent rights of equal dignity and life; 2) marriage as a conjugal union of man and woman, ordained by God from the creation, and historically understood by believers and non-believers alike, to be the most basic institution in society and; 3) religious liberty, which is grounded in the character of God, the example of Christ, and the inherent freedom and dignity of human beings created in the divine image.[10]

The Declaration's website encourages supporters to sign the declaration, and counts more than 455,000 signatories as of June 19, 2010.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Christian leaders issue 'call of conscience'". Associated Press. November 20 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Mohler, Al (09/23/09). "Why I Signed the Manhattan Declaration". {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Duncan, Ligon (December 2009). "The Manhattan Declaration: A Statement from Ligon Duncan".
  4. ^ Goodstein, Laurie (November 20 2009). "Christian Leaders Unite on Political Issues". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Boorstein, Michelle (November 21 2009). "Christian leaders take issue with laws". The Washington Post. Retrieved 24 November 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ MacArthur, John (11/24/2009). "The Manhattan Declaration". Pulpit Magazine. Shepherds' Fellowship. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Begg, Alistair (11/23/2009). "The Manhattan Declaration". Truth For Life. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ White, James R. (11/23/2009). "The Troubling Aspects of the Manhattan Declaration". Alpha & Omega Ministries. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ The Manhattan Declaration: Why didn’t you sign it, R.C.?
  10. ^ "The Manhattan Declaration". Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  11. ^ "The Manhattan Declaration". Retrieved 2010-01-12.

External links

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