The little-publicized Manhattan Declaration, released on November 20, 2009 by a coalition of Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical leadership, will prove to be more significant than its lack of media attention would suggest. For the first time since the civil rights movement, Christian leaders have spoken with one voice, stating that “no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence.” They have effectively drawn a line in the sand against the anti-life, anti-marriage agenda being pushed through our culture. What the leaders have reiterated is not that Christian morality—although it is the basis of our legal system and the foundation of our moral fiber—should be forced upon anyone, but that the opposite should also not be true. In keeping with the First Amendment, that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…”, public policy cannot compel any free people or the religious institutions to which they give their membership to speak, act, or live contrary to their faith. Where it does, we are obligated to resist.
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