A Declaration of…what, exactly?
Earlier today a who’s who of the conservative religious community unveiled the “Manhattan Declaration,” an exhaustive articulation of some of their longstanding views on a number of issues, which stated in part:
While the whole scope of Christian moral concern, including a special concern for the poor and vulnerable, claims our attention, we are especially troubled that in our nation today the lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly are severely threatened; that the institution of marriage, already buffeted by promiscuity, infidelity and divorce, is in jeopardy of being redefined to accommodate fashionable ideologies; that freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized by those who would use the instruments of coercion to compel persons of faith to compromise their deepest convictions.
Although the document itself doesn’t say so, coauthor Chuck Colson told The New York Times’ Laurie Goodstein that
“We argue that there is a hierarchy of issues…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.”
I’ll leave the task of addressing the substance of the Declaration’s positions to others (Amy Sullivan did a fine job) and just ask why Colson would think re-releasing existing arguments about an already clearly defined platform will win over young Christians who have already staked out their own agenda.
UPDATE: In a similar vein, Dan Gilgoff notes
It’s an interesting goal that says a lot about the fears of a graying generation of culture warriors, but the big question is how to instill the declaration’s principles in the new generation. Releasing a 4,700 word document at the National Press Club doesn’t seem like the straightest path to young people’s hearts.