Posted on 01/31/2014 7:29:52 AM PST by marshmallow
A group of influential Christian theologians and pastors announced on Wednesday their support of businesses like Hobby Lobby who are fighting against the HHS contraception mandate. In a 46-page amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), they argued that the mandate violates the First Amendment rights of Christians who believe that all work is sacred.
The list of 38 signatories includes pastor Rick Warren, Bishop Harry Jackson, theologian Wayne Grudem, author Ravi Zacharias, and other Christian influencers. The convening organizations listed on the brief includes Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Coalition of African American Pastors, and Manhattan Declaration, a movement of conservative Christians fighting “for life, marriage, and religious liberty.”
The brief argues that Christian doctrine requires that faith govern every aspect of a believer’s life, including their God-ordained vocation. Because Christian doctrine prohibits “the enabling, authorizing, or aiding of another” in sinful activities, the document argues, Christian employers and employees should not be required to pay for or provide contraception that includes abortion-causing drugs.
Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a school with five faculty members listed in support, is concerned that employers are going to be forced by the government to provide medical services “that they have good reason to find morally unconscionable.” Akin told me he believes that the contraception mandate is just another flaw in Obamacare, but he thinks the stakes are much higher than that.
“I am convinced this is a critical issue that if Hobby Lobby loses, a door is open for further infringements on religious liberty and freedom of conscience,” Akin said. “That this is even on the table signals a new day, and not a better one, in matters of religious liberty and matters of faith.”
In a statement provided to Religion News Service on Thursday......
(Excerpt) Read more at jonathanmerritt.religionnews.com ...
The list of 38 signatories includes pastor Rick Warren, Bishop Harry Jackson, theologian Wayne Grudem, author Ravi Zacharias, and other Christian influencers. The convening organizations listed on the brief includes Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Coalition of African American Pastors, and Manhattan Declaration, a movement of conservative Christians fighting “for life, marriage, and religious liberty.”
What took them so long?
In Warren's case, he probably had to measure how much publicity he can get out of it first.
i knew this question would arise... not everyone is aware of everything that is going on the moment it begins going on... sometimes it takes time for people to notice, for whatever reason... as for Rick Warren, maybe he was caught up in dealing with losing his son less than a year ago... who knows?...
I recall, perhaps incorrectly, that R. Warren endorsed Obama — in 2008. This, the trampling of religious freedom and choice by “health care” — was known and foreseeable then. He is late to the table. Welcome, but late.
And for those of us who pay directly, without employer paid benefits, this has been an immediate issue.
It was a major contrast to Rev. Billy Graham who took out full page advertisements in the Sunday before the 2012 election to leave no doubt about where he stood. I respect Rev. Graham for that.
I also welcome Rick Warren to the fight, even as a Johnny-Come-Lately, and whatever his motives are.
Bingo. Everything is "Benjamins"-driven with this charlatan.
Thanks for the clarification. To be “influential” one needs to be out front leading, not following.
as an aside, I don’t trust any of these mega-church leaders. They always get wishy-washy in their theology. Cults of personality if you ask me.
Rick Warren had to check to see what’s in it for Rick Warren.
Warren hosted the 1st presidential candidates' debate between McCain and Obama on 8/16/2008 at Warren's Saddleback Church. This was where Rick Warren asked the question, “What is marriage?” Senator Obama replied, “I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. [big audience applause] For me as a Christian it’s also a sacred union, you know, God’s in the mix … I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage.”
Rick Warren also directed the question to the 2 candidates, in regards to abortion, “at what point does a baby get human rights?” Sen. Obama replied, "that whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade." Sen. McCain replied directly to the question, "At the moment of conception."
Rick Warren was invited and delivered a prayer at BHO's inauguration on 1/20/2009 in Washington, D.C.
I do not recall Warren ever endorsing a candidate in that election. Warren graduated from a Southern Baptist Seminary, but I really don't know if he considers himself a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. I don't believe Billy Graham ever endorsed a presidential candidate, until OCT 2012, when he indirectly supported Romney. After the 2009 inauguration, Warren, the way I remember it, pretty much disappeared from the national scene. The death of his son clearly took a toll on him. But, I agree, he is late to the party, but most welcome.
The Manhattan Declaration's tagline is as follows: "Ours is, as it must be, a truly consistent ethic of love and life for all humans in all circumstances."
Here are excerpts from Wikipedia's synopsis of the Manhattan Declaration (the usual whines about gay marriage and assorted criticisms from the left not included below are also on the Wikipedia page; if you must read them, click here):
The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience is a manifesto issued by Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christian leaders to affirm support of "the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty". It was drafted on October 20, 2009 and released November 20, 2009, having been signed by more than 150 American religious leaders. On the issue of marriage, the declaration objects not only to same-sex marriage but also to the general erosion of the "marriage culture" with the spectre of divorce, greater acceptance of infidelity and the uncoupling of marriage from childbearing. The Declaration's website encourages supporters to sign the declaration, and counts 544,691 signatures as of January 22, 2014.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 imageThe declaration vows civil disobedience if Christians feel that their rights to civil liberties of free exercise of religion and freedom of speech are being violated...[citing] Martin Luther King, Jr.,... Augustine and Aquinas...
Notable signatories:
Salvatore Cordileone, Bishop of Oakland
James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family
Archbishop (now Cardinal) Timothy Michael Dolan, Archbishop of New York
Robert Wm. Duncan, primate of the Anglican Church in North America
Ligon Duncan, president of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals
Bishop Basil (Essey) of Wichita of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.
Cardinal John Patrick Foley, Grand Master (now Grand Master Emeritus) of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
Bishop Mark (Maymon), formerly of the Diocese of Toledo of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, now of the Orthodox Church in America
Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Jonah (Paffhausen), former primate Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council
Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, Archbishop (now Archbishop Emeritus) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Rev. Robert A. Sirico, president of Acton Institute
Robert B. Sloan, Jr., president of Houston Baptist University
Joseph M. Stowell, III, president of Cornerstone University
Chuck Swindoll, chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary
Timothy C. Tennent, president of Asbury Theological Seminary
Archbishop (now Cardinal) Donald William Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington
Ravi Zacharias, Christian apologetic, author, and lecturer
Click here for the home page of the Manhattan Declaration.
Ping to this thread and post #12.
He did give the invocation at Obama's first inauguration. Mighty big fence to straddle there.
Thank you for such lengthy reply. I hope he adds some financial muscle to this legal battle.
I have been supporting Chick-Fil-A, Hobby Lobby, The Little Sisters of the Poor, Catholic Charities, and others, against HHS Mandates, Homosexualist Propaganda, and the Left for YEARS.
And I am NOT a famous Christian Leader...
Just a humble bass player/music director in a Biker Church.
Thanks! I’ve been on their email list since the declaration was issued.
You've got that right. Maybe, just maybe the splinter he got in his a** from doing so is beginning to show signs of infection.
We can only hope.
Possibly so, but I don’t trust Warren. Here’s the main reason why.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/report-palin-asked-rick-warren-for-advice/
A pastor should NEVER relate details of the interactions with someone..anyone.. approaching them for guidance. But Warren knew there was some publicity to be made of this, so he chose to betray the trust Sarah had in him.
Must be cutting into Rick’s personal portfolio.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.