My colleague over at the Portland Progressive Examiner page has a good article on politics and religion. It is too bad that he has it backwards. The Manhattan Declaration is not an attempt to force any specific denominations beliefs on society; it is a step in the process to ensure that Christians have a place at the table. Christians enjoy the same rights as all Americans; the right to participate in the political process. With that participation comes, the values and principles that we as individuals possess.
Specifically, the Manhattan Declaration addresses the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and religious liberty. These are issues that have been under attack from left for the last three decades. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, Catholic Bishops and other religious leaders are well within their rights as American citizens to advocate for their position; and failure to do so is to fail to provide the leadership and example that every organization expects of its leaders.
There have been several examples in recent years where the government has attempted to impose restrictions against religious freedoms and deeply held beliefs. In 2006, Catholic Charities of Boston announced that it would to abandon its mission to provide adoption placements, rather than comply with state law requiring that gays be allowed to adopt children. There are currently efforts in Washington DC that will force Catholic Charities to make a similar decision by attempting to force allowing adoptions by gay couples and the enforcement of spousal benefits.
The attempt to portray the signers of the declaration as the "American Taliban" and "Christo-Fascists" who are every bit as dangerous as the 9-11 terrorists is over-reaching. The terrorists were attacking America in an attempt to attack our freedoms and way of life. The Manhattan Declaration is doing just the opposite; defending tradition values, freedom and our way of life.
Attempts by the left to force their beliefs on everyone else will result in unwanted and unexpected impacts to the most vulnerable in our society. The government has a decision to make. Faith-based organizations play a large role in providing the safety net for many in this country. Is it worth the risks to these individuals to pursue a leftist, politically correct agenda?
Download the Manhattan Declaration
Comments
Well said! Kudos!!
Not to mention that majority opinion, which representatives are supposed to represent is consistent with the principles outlined in the Manhattan declaration.
Even under a simplistic "majority rules" basis. These principles would be reflected by the adminstrators in office, however, they enact policy in defiance of the majority, to the detriment of all.
What you fail to recognize is that as marriage is a religious institution, those of the same sex are just as eligible for marriage if they are of a religion that allows it. This does not protect religious rights of everyone, it only protects the rights of those who think their way.
Ignoring one groups right to religious freedom is all this is.
Nice article and AMEN!!!
MK: you have it backwards. The attempt to attack our freedoms is by the Manhattan signers. Our freedoms include the right to live a secular life by secular laws without regard to others' interpretations of religious doctrine or in preferring one religious sect over another.
Mass Charities was ordered by the Bishop to remove itself from assisting in adoptions. The charity's board protested, and many resigned rather than be complicit in harming children in need. WWJD?
Also, since the RCC also doesn't approve of divorce and remarried couples, why don't they refuse family benefits to those types of families in addition to gay families? Oh, could it be hypocrisy?
Let them move to Iran if they'd like to live in a theocracy.
Honestly, in a way, I kind of see the comparisons of these folks to the Taliban of Afghanistan, but not the people that attacked us on 9/11. The terrorists that attacked us were Al-Qaeda. The Taliban were the religious folks that used to control Afghanistan. They were linked to Al-Qaeda because they were sympathizers of the terrorist group, and allowed them to hide in their country. I'm Catholic, and I can see that there are radical Catholics here in our country that are trying to force their religious beliefs on everyone else. Trying to make those beliefs the law of this land, similar to how the Taliban were successfully able to make their beliefs the law of the land in Afghanistan before. There are radical Muslims, and there are radical Christians, and we are now starting to see it a little more on the Christian side. Not as extreme, but you see the similar pattern.
Great article, Mark. Well said.
I am a practicing Catholic. I do not believe in abortion. But I do believe that the lines between Church and State were drawn with good reason. By removing adoption services for all because the laws of the state run counter to church doctrine clearly crosses that line. There are any number of ways to avoid the church being required to provide services that would be contrary to our beliefs--exemptions based on religious belief are nothing new. Why then, are we not looking to insure those exemptions are in place, rather than threatening a blanket removal of all services should the law not be changed? I find it alarming that so many in our religious community would sign a document that attempts to secure our "religious" freedom at the expense of anothers.
Great job with this article.
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