The Manhattan Declaration

http://manhattandeclaration.org

Released November 20, 2009

A Call of Christian Conscience

A Summary

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them.

These truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life

2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife

3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable.

Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them.

We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Partial List of Signatories

1. Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput
Archbishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver, CO

2. Most Rev. Timothy Dolan
Archbishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of New York, NY

3. Most Rev. Joseph E. Kurtz
Archbishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville, KY

4. His Eminence Adam Cardinal Maida
Archbishop Emeritus, Roman Catholic Diocese of Detroit, MI

5. Most Rev. John J. Myers
Archbishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, NJ

6. Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann
Archbishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City, KS

7. Most Rev. John Nienstedt
Archbishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, MN

8. His Eminence Justin Cardinal Rigali
Archbishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, PA

9. Most Rev. Allen Vigneron
Archbishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Detroit (Detroit, MI)

10. Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl
Archbishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.