Christo-Fascists' "Manhattan Declaration"

There are some who say I write about religion too often, but it's hard not to do so when the far right religious bigots never cease in their efforts to degrade and denigrate LGBT citizens and keep us a persecuted minority. Just yesterday a new anti-gay and anti-freedom of religion offense was launched by far right forces of hate and reactionarism in the form of the so-called "Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience.” The irony, of course, is that most of the signers of the "declaration" - who comprise a veritable who's, who of demagogues and professional Christians - have demonstrated time and time again that they have no conscience whatsoever as they deliberately lie and disseminate untruths on a daily basis, all in the supposed name of Jesus. Likewise they demonstrate nothing but contempt for the concept of freedom of religion for others even as the whine about religious freedom - which they interpret as their freedom to impose their intolerant religious beliefs on all citizens. They are an utterly self-centered, self-congratulatory, and self anointed bunch of bigots. Adding to the irony is that one of the principal drafters of the "declaration" is ex-felon Chuck Colson who has turned religious indoctrination and bigotry in to a lucrative career since his release from prison. The so-called text of the declaration can be found here. Here are some highlights from the New York Times on the Christianist offensive:

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145 evangelical, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian leaders have signed a declaration saying they will not cooperate with laws that they say could be used to compel their institutions to participate in abortions, or to bless or in any way recognize same-sex couples. “We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence,” it says.
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The manifesto . . . is an effort to rejuvenate the political alliance of conservative Catholics and evangelicals that dominated the religious debate during the administration of President George W. Bush. The signers include nine Roman Catholic archbishops and the primate of the Orthodox Church in America. . . . They say they also want to speak to younger Christians who have become engaged in issues like climate change and global poverty, and who are more accepting of homosexuality than their elders. They say they want to remind them that abortion, homosexuality and religious freedom are still paramount issues.
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“We argue that there is a hierarchy of issues,” said Charles Colson, a prominent evangelical who founded Prison Fellowship after serving time in prison for his role in the Watergate scandal. “A lot of the younger evangelicals say they’re all alike. We’re hoping to educate them that these are the three most important issues.”
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The document says, “We 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 antilife act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent.”
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Among the signatories are NOM's Maggie Gallagher, anti-gay Bishop Harry Jackson, Gary Bauer, James Dobson, Catholic League lunatic Bill Donohue, and nine Catholic archbishops including NY Archbishop Timothy Dolan. Make no mistake. These individuals and their organizations are a clear and present danger to the religious freedom of other citizens and ultimately to constitutional government. In the final analysis, they seek a theocracy where they get to dictate what others must believe and how others will be compelled to live their lives. They represent evil, not Christian charity and love as preached by the Jesus they claim to worship.