The other weekend, Fr. Hilton read us part of the Manhattan Declaration, a document that was drafted by the following three Christians:

1. Prof. Robert P. George who is the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. He is also a member of the President’s Council on Bioethics and previously served on the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
2. Dr. Timothy George, who is Dean and Professor of Divinity at the Beeson Divinity School. He is one of the most respected historians in the evangelical world, and the editor of The Reformation Commentary on Scripture with InterVarsity Press. He holds the Th.D. from Harvard University
3. Chuck Coulson, who is the founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries, which is an outreach to convicts, victims of crime, and justice officers. He is famous for his prison conversion to Christ, Whom he has strived to serve ever since.

What is the Declaration? It is a courageous statement on the part of many Christian leaders, Anglican, Catholic, Evangelical and Orthodox, in the face of the continuing attacks on Christianity, and especially attacks on the sanctity of life, the family and the right of conscience objection.

Why is it called Manhattan Declaration? Because it was first presented during an ecumenical meeting of Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, and Evangelical religious leaders in Manhattan in late September, 2009.

Who signed it? Catholic, Evangelical, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican leaders who were specially admired by the organizers of the New York meeting for their public witness on behalf of justice, human rights, and the common good and were invited to join in shaping the Manhattan Declaration. Among those is our own Archbishop Chaput. Many other religious leaders who have publicly demonstrated a deep commitment to the same ideals have also been and are being invited to sign the document. The original 150 signatories include some familiar names, in addition to our Archbishop Chaput. Here are just some of them: Bishop Sam Aquila, who was the firstRector of St. John Vianney Seminary, in Denver; Cardinal Justin Rigali, of Philadelphia; Bishop Michael Sheridan, of Colorado Springs; Bishop John Myers, of Newark; Archbishop Timothy Dolan, of New York; Bishop Thomas Olmsted, of Phoenix; Cardinal Adam Maida, Archbishop Emeritus of Detroit.

Among them are also names with which we are not as familiar, but who are just as prominent in their religious denominations, such as Bishop Peter Akinola, Primate of the Anglican Church in Nigeria; His Grace Bishop Basil Essey, the Orthodox Bishop of Wichita and Mid-America. Women are also represented, such as Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List; Maggie Gallagher President of the National Organization for Marriage; Dr. Jeanette Hsieh Executive Vice President and Provost of Trinity International University; Dr. Sarah Sumner. Professor of Theology and Ministry at Azusa Pacific University.

It is encouraging to see the ecumenical dimension of this Document. Christians who may disagree on points of doctrine do not disagree on the basic principles of the Gospel: Life and religious liberty. All those who put their names to the Document, invite every Christian to join them in standing up with them and proclaiming to the world that we, as Christians, will unite behind the banner of Christ and no other banner, and if necessary will resort to peaceful protest and civil disobedience, in order to protect our freedom of religion. Many “regular” folks have already signed it: everyone can do so, and read the Manhattan Declaration.

Why now? Because the attacks against Christianity have already resulted in persecution in countries where no one would have thought could happen, such as Canada and Sweden. There, bishops and ministers have been jailed for “daring” to proclaim the sanctity of marriage as the bond between a man and a woman. In the United States, many lawyers have banded together to form non-profit groups that defend those whose religious liberty has been attacked. Some of these groups are: the Alliance Defense Fund, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the American Center for Law and Justice, and the Christian Legal Society.

We have all been invited to stand up and be counted, Many of us already have; will you join us?