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November 29, 2010
App Store Pulls Manhattan Declaration
Apparently there's not an app for the 400,000+ signature declaration....
Apple's iTunes App Store has removed a program for the Manhattan Declaration after critics decried the declaration as "anti-gay" and "anti-woman."
The app, which went online in October, enabled users to sign the declaration, visit the website, and take a survey relating to the declaration. Change.org posted a petition--which picked up over 7,000 signers in a few days--asking that Apple remove the "anti-gay and anti-choice" application.
Defining itself as "A Call of Christian Conscience," the 4700-word declaration announces its signatories' intention "to affirm our right—and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation—to speak and act in defense" of principles that include "sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as a union of husband and wife, and the freedom of conscience and religion." Released in 2009, the declaration has picked up over 400,000 signers, including drafters Charles Colson, Robert George, and Timothy George. (CT's editor-in-chief David Neff also signed the declaration.)
At some point in the last few days, the declaration app unobtrusively vanished from the App Store.
Observers have long puzzled over Apple's criteria for accepting and rejecting apps; in fact many people accused Apple of a double standard when they rejected a number of apps designed specifically for the gay community. The company said they rejected the apps for objectionable content, though many say that the cited content was no worse than that available in apps the company has accepted (like the one promoting the recent movie Bruno).
Apple has yet to explain its reasons for removing the declaration's app, which they originally rated "4+" for "No objectionable material." Supporters of the declaration, however, are definitely making their opinions known about the anti-app campaign.
"I am one of the 150 or so original signers of the Manhattan Declaration—I urge readers here to sign it—and I don’t hate gay people," wrote Tom Gilson on First Things's Evangel blog. "That’s an unjust and intolerant tag that a minority opposition group has fixed upon me for rhetorical effect. It’s wrong and it’s extremely judgmental."
"To a radicalized blog dedicated to promoting abortion, denigrating the dignity of women and the unborn, and supporting unnatural unions, this application is the scourge of human existence," writes Billy Atwell on the Manhattan Declaration's own blog. "What does that tell me? It tells me that we’re doing something right "
UPDATE, 12/01: The three original drafters of the Manhattan Declaration have sent a letter to Apple, calling on Steve Jobs to restore the app.
"In an atmosphere of 300,000+ available apps, it is surprising to us that there couldn't continue to be an app focused on three views that millions of Americans have in common," Colson said in a press release late this afternoon, referring to the three major planks of the declaration.
"Apple originally found that the app contains no objectionable materials," Colson said, "and in the spirit of civil public dialogue, we call on Apple to reinsate the Manhattan Declaration app and allow these issues to be debated in a reasoned and respectful manner."
Comments
The document should be pulled from the hearts of evangelical Christians as it tries to commingle the beliefs of Roman Catholicism and Bible-believing Christians. Particularly with regards to the doctrine of justification, which the two see as incompatible. The document should have left that portion out of the conversation. We can all agree that we want to see an end to abortion, strong marriages between one man and one woman, and strong family structure as a result of that union. But we cannot look at the doctrines of Rome and hold hands with the theology of Roman Catholicism.
Posted By: Flip Jackson | November 29, 2010 5:12 PM
The conference speakers have been quick to point out that Evangelical Christian and Roman Catholic theology differ in many ways. There is nothing wrong with joining others in the pursuit of protecting life and marriage, as long as we make the distinction between Roman Catholics and Evangelical Christians.I do not believe we will be labeled together. Most know that people who claim to be Christian differ on a number of issues.
Posted By: Bob Gates | November 29, 2010 5:40 PM
As one of the signers of the Manhattan Declaration, I realize it is controversial and likely to not be popular with the prevailing culture, but then Christ wasn't popular with His culture either. It is sad that Apple has chosen to discriminate against Christians in this matter. Choosing to do right will not be popular, especially when the culture demands evil be glorified. Sad. I would hope Apple would reconsider and allow the App to stand, after all, if you don't want to use that one, don't buy it.
Posted By: Ncsuecumom | November 30, 2010 1:55 PM
If we who stand for God, good, right and the Ten Commandments are unpopular, then we are on the right side, as all the prophets, apostles and Jesus Christ Himself have opposed Satan and his global one world economy, child murder, euthanasia, and the destruction of family by worshiping the creature, creature pleasures more than the Creator or the gay lifestyle and agenda. Apple has now sided with Satan and we should not buy an Apple product in the future.
We true Christians should gladly die for the statements on the Manhattan Declaration. All those who oppose the RCC for standing up for Christian and family values are wrong, some Catholics are spirit filled Christians, who believe in marriage, family and babies, so your opposition to their participating in our opposition to Planned Parenthood worldwide and anti-GBLT agendas, is not warranted, for they are standing up with us for the right family values and the lives of millions of children, 53 million so far have died in the US alone, if one third of the world is RCC, then we need their help against the perverts and murderers of this world.
Posted By: ChristianPatriot13 | December 1, 2010 7:35 AM
Really, > 400K have signed the Declaration (including me). 7000 object to it - and it gets pulled? What is the rational?
As to the RC v. Protestant conflict - not really very accurate. To imply that Roman Catholicism rejects the doctrine of justification is a red herring.
John Paul, toward the end of his life wrote a defense of justification by faith as a belief of the RC church.
Posted By: jyearsley | December 1, 2010 12:42 PM
Doesn't an App mean you have a choice to download it or not? What about the people who want it? I guess they don't count. Do they Apple?
Posted By: Barbara | December 1, 2010 2:22 PM
If less than 2% object and the APP gets pulled; then Apple is being dictated to by an extremely small minority!! That being so; then I want ALL of Apples available programs to be about Jesus Christ and his Salvation message. Rational is the same if a small minority can run a large compaies functions.
Posted By: TDDerryberry Sr | December 1, 2010 5:32 PM
@ Flip Jackson- How do you figure that the Declaration has commingle the beliefs of Roman Catholicism and Bible-believing Christians in regard to justification?? Justification is not even alluded to. Try to stick within topic so as not to create a straw man. This is a solid document, we as sons and daughters of God from every trinitarian denomination need to unite against Caesar when he calls us to deny our King, not quibble about whether a particular doctrine, which has nothing to do with the matters at hand, should keep us from joining with Christ in standing for righteousness that we all agree on.
Posted By: Mikey j | January 2, 2011 2:58 PM
Admittedly, I'm not as familiar with this Declaration as I probably should be, but the principle being exhibited in the story here screams blatant hypocrisy now that the shoe is on the other foot.
I live in NYC, and see signs on a regular basis advertising for a storage company that state "If you don't like gay marriage, don't get gay married." So...what's with an App that no one is forced to know about or purchase more the less use? It seems like the aforementioned storage company, or at least their ad agency, has a pretty healthy handle on the idea, but some people just want to bully their way to, well, getting their way. Which in this case means not having to co-exist on the planet with a software program that says something they don't like. Go feed some hungry children. Get impassioned about a real issue. Get over it.
Posted By: VJ | August 11, 2011 9:14 AM