Posted on 11/28/2009 5:48:44 AM PST by Kaslin
It took a while, we're talking decades, but finally some American religious leaders say they are fed up. A few days ago, a faith-based group including Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York issued a scathing indictment of secularism in the USA entitled "The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience."
The document, which includes input from Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Christians, basically says that Christian values are under siege in America and people of faith need to act aggressively to stem the tide. The declaration goes so far as to encourage civil disobedience and uses Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a model for that.
Why now? Why are some Christian leaders coming out of the sacristy at this point in time?
The declaration gives a strong hint, as abortion is the lead issue. There is no question that the Obama administration and the media in general are ardently pro-choice. No surprise there. But the fact that so many Democrats in Congress are supporting public funding for abortions as part of health care reform has rocked the pro-life world.
The issue is simple: Should a country that values sincere conscience require taxpayers who believe abortion is murder to pay for the life-ending procedure? Obviously, millions of Americans say no.
The intensity of the debate is made crystal clear in the showdown between Rhode Island Bishop Thomas Tobin and Congressman Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. The bishop has ordered the congressman not to receive communion because of his support for abortion rights. Kennedy, like many pro-choice Catholics, falls back on personal belief versus public policy. He says just because he takes a pro-choice position doesn't mean he personally approves of abortion.
The bishop is having none of it.
On my television program, Tobin flat-out said that Kennedy has a moral obligation as a Catholic to fight against abortion. And if he doesn't, his soul is in danger of damnation. Words don't come stronger than that.
It is apparent that some religious leaders are engaging in high-stakes rhetoric, including the condemnation of homosexual marriage. After abortion, gay nuptials dominate the declaration, and once again the language is stark.
The tract states that the drive for same-sex and multiple-partner marriage is diminishing "true" marriage. "Marriage is made possible by the sexual complementarity of man and woman... No one has a civil right to have a non-marital relationship treated as a marriage." The Christian manifesto concludes with a call to arms and, some believe, a direct arrow aimed at the Obama administration: "Unjust laws degrade human beings. … They lack any power to bind in conscience. (Martin Luther) King's willingness to go to jail, rather than comply with legal injustice, was exemplary and inspiring."
And so, with the stroke of a pen, the Christian writers have turned the tables on those who say gay marriage and unfettered abortion are civil rights and, therefore, should be constitutionally protected. Obviously, there is disagreement on that.
With polls showing that more than 80 percent of Americans believe in God, the question now becomes: Will they rally behind The Manhattan Declaration? So far, the secular media have given it little attention, and that might well continue. But even if the manifesto gets a full airing, are people of faith as upset as some of their leadership with the secularism of America?
At this point, I simply don't know.
One of the most powerful messages I’ve seen is a poster of a newborn baby that says: “Kill this baby at thirty days and it’s murder. Kill this baby thirty days before it’s born and it’s an abortion.”
This is a Biblical truth. I am glad to see our nation’s religious leaders finding their voice and I’m glad to see Catholic Bishops denying their pro-abortion politicians/congressionals communion because of their position on abortion.
It isn't "pro choice". It is pro abortion. It sees abortion as a solution and not a problem.
“At this point, I simply don’t know.”
Typical Bill, always riding in the straddle. Inquiring minds want to know his stance now that the AGW “science” has been found to be just a bit tained.
I remember when he refused to admit to the MSM bias, that was until he became a target of it. Do we have another wakeup call?
No kidding. Even the incredibly weak tea that is the “Manhattan Declaration” is too strong for O’Reilly.
Good for the bishop, and it is about time.
Sign the Manhattan Declaration. Last evening, it had 173,000 signatures. Go for one million and more. It’s your chance to let the politicians know they have no right to tax YOU to pay for something against your conscience.
http://manhattandeclaration.org/
It’s fast and easy to do.
“Kennedy, like many pro-choice Catholics, falls back on personal belief versus public policy. He says just because he takes a pro-choice position doesn’t mean he personally approves of abortion.” What then does it mean? By his actions he implies that he does approve of abortion. More double talk from a Kennedy.
‘bout time...just WHAT has taken this long?
I received this this morning and don’t know what to make of it. I really don’t understand what he is trying to say except perhaps we shouldn’t dissent from anything our government wants to do because the Scriptures have it covered?? To a point, I would say yes but after that, he lost me.
For a perspective on why not to sign:
http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/article/manhattan-declaration/
Do you think for one moment the Bishop would have attempted this if he lived?
I signed it!
If you’re talking anti-abortion, you best not use “The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King” as a reference:
Upon Accepting
THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA MARGARET SANGER AWARD
In 1966, Planned Parenthood Federation of America inaugurated the PPFA Margaret Sanger Award to honor the woman who founded America’s family planning movement. The PPFA Margaret Sanger Award is given annually to individuals of distinction in recognition of excellence and leadership in furthering reproductive health and reproductive rights.
In its first year, the award was bestowed upon four men:
Dr. Carl G. Hartman, for “his singular contribution to human knowledge of the reproductive processes”
General William H. Draper Jr., for “his singular contribution during the past decade to the mobilization of public awareness and government action to resolve the world population crisis”
President Lyndon Baines Johnson, for “his vigorous and farsighted leadership in bringing the United States government to enunciate and implement an affirmative, effective population policy at home and abroad”
The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., for “his courageous resistance to bigotry and his lifelong dedication to the advancement of social justice and human dignity”.
From King’s acceptance letter:
“There is no human circumstance more tragic than the persisting existence of a harmful condition for which a remedy is readily available. Family planning, to relate population to world resources, is possible, practical and necessary. Unlike plagues of the dark ages or contemporary diseases we do not yet understand, the modern plague of overpopulation is soluble by means we have discovered and with resources we possess.”
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/reverend-martin-luther-king-jr-4728.htm
Planned Parenthood: Doing to the black population something the Klan only dreamed about.
*Rolleyes*
Well. When you sleep with pigs (like the big government advocates many church elders seem to revere) is it any wonder you wake up smelly? They helped get us down this road by their support of liberal social policies on everything else, welcome to “the rest of it.”
And good luck getting the genie back in the bottle.
Hmmm, thank you. Hadn’t gotten that deep about it yet but I really appreciate your link.
I know 12-year olds who are more serious about the situation with the culture/politics ... than whoever was preaching today at church. I don’t know who he is, somebody new.
It was silliness, they were fascinated with the snow flakes, the first of the year. Maybe the guitars added to the levity. I like guitars, but I noticed that people get all pop cultured when the guitar music starts.
Serious stuff is happening in Connecticut this month, and the adults are oblivious. I want suffrage for 12-year olds.
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