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The Manhattan Declaration described as wake-up call for the church by Chuck Colson

The Manhattan Declaration was announced on Nov. 20, 2009, by Chuck Colson, Founder of The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview. Colson drafted the declaration along with Robert George (Professor, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University) and Timothy George  (Professor, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University).

"The Manhattan Declaration is a wake-up call—a call to conscience—for the church," said Colson. "It is also a crystal-clear message to civil authorities that we will not, under any circumstances, stand idly by as our religious freedom comes under assault."

The 4,700-word declaration was signed by 152 Christian leaders, including Dennis Rainey, president of FamilyLife (headquartered in Little Rock, Ark.). This document unites Christians to defend (1) the sanctity of human life, (2) the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife, and (3) the rights of conscience and religious liberty. 
On today's Focus on the Family® radio broadcast, Dr. James Dobson is joined in the studio by Chuck Colson and Robert George to discuss the Manhattan Declaration. You can listen to this broadcast online.


Manhattan Declaration drafter Chuck Colson, Founder of The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, announces the Manhattan Declaration on Nov. 20, 2009.
Photo Courtesy of Manhattan Declaration

More Information:
 
 
 
Focus on the Family radio broadcast (Dr. James Dobson visits with Chuck Colson and Robert George)
 

 

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By

Little Rock Evangelical Examiner

Mary and her husband have two grown sons. The author of several books, including Help for Busy Moms, she has written articles for The Family Room,...

Comments

  • Irene Mattice 2 years ago
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    have read

  • Karen Johnson 2 years ago
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    Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! I agree with you 100%....My prayers are with you! Victory is yours in Christ Jesus! I Thank God for Chuck Colson and all of you for standing for what is Right and what is Truth! Mrs. Karen Johnson

  • Maria Miner 2 years ago
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    May God continue to quide you and let us support you in prayer and in standing for the truth.

  • christina smith 2 years ago
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    Thank God someone has finally stepped up to the plate. It is about time we Christian's say we are tried of being dictated to by those who want to take our God given rights as a Christian from us. Thank You Christina Smith

  • Matt 2 years ago
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    (By John MacArthur)

    Here are the main reasons I am not signing the Manhattan Declaration, even though a few men whom I love and respect have already affixed their names to it:

    • Although I obviously agree with the document’s opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, and other key moral problems threatening our culture, the document falls far short of identifying the one true and ultimate remedy for all of humanity’s moral ills: the gospel. The gospel is barely mentioned in the Declaration. At one point the statement rightly acknowledges, “It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season”—and then adds an encouraging wish: “May God help us not to fail in that duty.” Yet the gospel itself is nowhere presented (much less explained) in the document or any of the accompanying literature. Indeed, that would be a practical impossibility because of the contradictory views held by the broad range of signatories r

  • George Harris 2 years ago
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    It's about time someone stands up for the beliefs of all Christians in the world against anyone who wants to take Christ and the Christmas holiday away from us. My prayers are with you always. May God bless you and yours and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

  • Reginald Ash 2 years ago
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    in God we trust

  • Diane Taylor 2 years ago
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    We are ONE Body ONE Church; the outcalled ones. Lets stand for our FAITH as we are the LIGHT and SALT on earth. Amen

  • Appalled 2 years ago
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    Civil disobedience in the name of religion, or the advocation of such, is TERRORISM.

    You are NO DIFFERENT from Al-Quaeda.

  • WHAT? 2 years ago
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    APPALLED.... The huge difference between Christian American led leaders trying to stand up for what is right, and speak for the voice of many, many christians and al-quaeda is the fact that we aren't trying to blow up people for what we believe in.... it's pacifist idea's like this, that will have there rights ripped out from under them and then start complaining about how it happened.

  • ken kimmel 2 years ago
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    If we did not have something or someone to believe in , then really , what good are we? As far as I know Jesus is the only one who really showed us He loved us by dying on the cross for our sins. So why not stop these epople that want to take our faith and beliefs away? How else can you go wrong.without god in our lives we are lost . why can't people get that??? amen

  • Inghram 2 years ago
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    Last time I checked, the 1st Amendment was fully intact without any attempts of to "make laws respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".

  • WHAT 2 years ago
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    INGHRAM... If you can't objectively see how the powers that are, Here in America the persecution of Christians has not yet reached the feverish pitch as in other parts of the world. There is still a Constitution that protects them and allows them to freely practice their faith. But, broiling beneath the surface, the same hatred of God that exists in other parts of the world is festering in all our institutions. Slowly, methodically, and incrementally the anti-God forces are working to remove that Constitutional barrier.

    It is important to recognize that those who are working for the dissolution of our society have a spiritual agenda. They are not merely attempting to dismantle the historic cultural values of this nation and move us toward a homogenized world. They also want to destroy Christianity and Bible-based religion. It is a clear part of their agenda, and they have already moved a long way in that direction. cont....

  • WHAT? 2 years ago
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    In America it is called 'secularism' and is becoming visible in all walks of life and in all our institutions. Numerous legislative and legal battles which I'll discuss below attest to the fact that religious warfare is taking place.
    Our entertainment industry and the news media sneer at anyone who defends Jesus Christ in public and have been leading a propaganda war of stereotyping Christians into a subordinate class. Their distortions reflect a genuine misunderstanding of who Christians are and what they believe. The federal government abridges the free exercise of religion in America by:

    Regulating churches and other religious organizations through its tax laws.
    Limiting religious liberty in the area of public and private education.
    Forbidding non-denominational prayer in public schools and at educational ceremonies.
    Excluding the Bible from school classrooms and from other school property. cont.....

  • WHAT? 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Excluding the Bible from school classrooms and from other school property.
    Refusing to permit the religious displays on public property, such as Christmas and Chanukah.

    The trend in the public forum is to replace the word "Christmas" with "Season's Gretings" or "Happy Holidays."

    In March 1998, The ACLU put pressure on the small town of Republic, Missouri to remove a fish symbol from its official logo, calling it a "secret sign of Christianity."

    In April 1998, Rev. Patrick Mahoney was arrested for praying on the steps of the Supreme Court.

    Tourists visiting Washington D.C. in 1997 were ordered by the police to stop praying in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

    In 2003, the National Park Service removed 30 year-old plaques inscribed with Bible verses at Grand Canyon following complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union.

    It is very evident that the free execise of religion is under attack!

  • WHAT? 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Excluding the Bible from school classrooms and from other school property.
    Refusing to permit the religious displays on public property, such as Christmas and Chanukah.

    The trend in the public forum is to replace the word "Christmas" with "Season's Gretings" or "Happy Holidays."

    In March 1998, The ACLU put pressure on the small town of Republic, Missouri to remove a fish symbol from its official logo, calling it a "secret sign of Christianity."

    In April 1998, Rev. Patrick Mahoney was arrested for praying on the steps of the Supreme Court.

    Tourists visiting Washington D.C. in 1997 were ordered by the police to stop praying in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

    In 2003, the National Park Service removed 30 year-old plaques inscribed with Bible verses at Grand Canyon following complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union.

    It is very evident that the free execise of religion is under attack!

  • WHAT? 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Excluding the Bible from school classrooms and from other school property.
    Refusing to permit the religious displays on public property, such as Christmas and Chanukah.

    The trend in the public forum is to replace the word "Christmas" with "Season's Gretings" or "Happy Holidays."

    In March 1998, The ACLU put pressure on the small town of Republic, Missouri to remove a fish symbol from its official logo, calling it a "secret sign of Christianity."

    In April 1998, Rev. Patrick Mahoney was arrested for praying on the steps of the Supreme Court.

    Tourists visiting Washington D.C. in 1997 were ordered by the police to stop praying in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

    In 2003, the National Park Service removed 30 year-old plaques inscribed with Bible verses at Grand Canyon following complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union.

    It is very evident that the free execise of religion is under attack!

  • WHAT? 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Excluding the Bible from school classrooms and from other school property.
    Refusing to permit the religious displays on public property, such as Christmas and Chanukah.

    The trend in the public forum is to replace the word "Christmas" with "Season's Gretings" or "Happy Holidays."

    In March 1998, The ACLU put pressure on the small town of Republic, Missouri to remove a fish symbol from its official logo, calling it a "secret sign of Christianity."

    In April 1998, Rev. Patrick Mahoney was arrested for praying on the steps of the Supreme Court.

    Tourists visiting Washington D.C. in 1997 were ordered by the police to stop praying in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

    In 2003, the National Park Service removed 30 year-old plaques inscribed with Bible verses at Grand Canyon following complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union.

    It is very evident that the free execise of religion is under attack!

  • WHAT? 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Excluding the Bible from school classrooms and from other school property.
    Refusing to permit the religious displays on public property, such as Christmas and Chanukah.

    The trend in the public forum is to replace the word "Christmas" with "Season's Gretings" or "Happy Holidays."

    In March 1998, The ACLU put pressure on the small town of Republic, Missouri to remove a fish symbol from its official logo, calling it a "secret sign of Christianity."

    In April 1998, Rev. Patrick Mahoney was arrested for praying on the steps of the Supreme Court.

    Tourists visiting Washington D.C. in 1997 were ordered by the police to stop praying in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

    In 2003, the National Park Service removed 30 year-old plaques inscribed with Bible verses at Grand Canyon following complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union.

    It is very evident that the free execise of religion is under attack!

  • Kell Brigan 2 years ago
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    Last time I checked, signatures were over 112,000. Can't check now because their server's maxed out! Woo hoo!

  • Inghram 2 years ago
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    WHAT? ... I appreciate your reply. However, while in the process of formulating a response I researched the situation of Rev. Patrick Mahoney and I happened up this web site which I'm sure will seem quite familiar to you: jeremiahproject.com/prophecy/warxian.html

    From your tenth word forward you did nothing more than copy and paste your reply, without listing the source ... in other words, unless you own that web site, you have plagiarized.

    Plagiarizing is not what one would call a "Christian value". I have no interest in a discussion with a hysterical conspiracy theorist by proxy.

  • what? 2 years ago
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    Inghram... you got me, it was never my intent to decieve or plagerize.. unfortunately I donot always express my self the way others do, and I felt the jeremiah project spoke my heart, and it does not negate the reality to what was expressed. I humbly express my apologies for not giving credit where credit is due. But I hope my point was clear... free exercise of religon is being stripped. Bless you.

  • Karen Michaud 2 years ago
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    To God be the Glory! May His Will Be Done.

  • Art 2 years ago
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    The Manhattan Declaration (FamilyLife's Culture Watch) why can I not download this file? My system lets me download everything else.

  • Mary May Larmoyeux 2 years ago
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    Art, thanks for letting me know that the link wasn't working for "Download the Manhattan Declaration." I don't know what happened, but it should work now. Also the link to The Manhattan Declaration (FamilyLife Culture Watch) goes to the FL Culture Watch blog post about this document.

  • Howard Adams 1 year ago
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    may we reclaim all of our christian rights

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