Some 140 Catholic, Orthodox and Evangelical Christian leaders have signed a pledge in defense of life, religious liberty and traditional marriage, threatening to resort to civil disobedience if necessary rather than retreat from these three moral principles.

The document, called the Manhattan Declaration, “is also crystal-clear message to civil authorities that we will not, under any circumstances, stand idly by as our religious freedom comes under assault,” writes Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries and co-author of the declaration.

About 16 religious leaders who signed, what they called the Manhattan Declaration, attended the Nov. 20 press conference in Washington to unveil it.

Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, who welcomed the group to Washington, said the document echoed “what needs to be said” today and did so “with a collective voice.”The 4700-word statement, pledges the group’s “obligation to speak and act in defense of these truths” and stressed that “no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence.”

Several speakers pointed out that the issues highlighted in the “Manhattan Declaration” are not new, but there is a new urgency to defend them.

“Justice demands that we not remain silent,” said Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia.

Some speakers mentioned the possibility of civil disobedience, if necessary, to defend their beliefs.

“There are limits to what can be asked or imposed on our consciences,” said Robert George, a member of the document’s drafting committee and a jurisprudence professor at Princeton University.

George, who is Catholic, said any protests or acts of resistance “would be carried out respectfully” and with nonviolence.

The document states that the signers “will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family.”

When asked by a reporter about the issue of civil disobedience, Archbishop Wuerl said: “We hope it does not come to that.”

Recent news reports have claimed that the Archdiocese of Washington and its social service arm, Catholic Charities, are threatening to stop providing social services if the District of Columbia City Council’s proposed same-sex marriage bill pass.

The archdiocese said it will continue its outreach services, but its work would be significantly limited as the bill offers little protection for religious beliefs and would require Catholic Charities to recognize and promote same-sex marriage in employment policies, and adoption and foster-care policies.

Catholic Charities’ homeless shelter, counseling and adoption programs are funded with $20 million in government contracts and about $10 million in funds from the archdiocese.

Source:  US Christian leaders draw battle line (CNS)

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