Christian Leaders Take Issue With Laws

Andrew Pauley
11-22-09
4:45pm

Conservative Christian leaders unveiled a declaration Friday calling on Christians not to comply with rules and laws forcing them to accept abortion, same-sex marriage and other ideals that go against their religious doctrines. The declaration urges Christians to practice civil disobedience to defend their convictions, even though some signers of the document backed away from the strong language. The Catholic Archbishop of Washington, Donald W. Wuerl, was among the first signers of the Manhattan Declaration. He appeared at a news conference in the District on Friday to announce it, even as the Church was considering a city-proposed compromise on its same-sex marriage measure. Church officials say the bill, as it stands, would require faith groups, such as the church-run Catholic Charities, to extend benefits to married same-sex partners, an example of what the declaration's authors see as a violation of religious liberty law. The declaration notes that Christianity has taught over the centuries "that civil disobedience is not only permitted, but sometimes required." People who signed the declaration, however, were vague about how they hoped Christians would respond to it. "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," the declaration says. It lists the "fundamental truths" as the "sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife, and the rights of conscience and religious liberty."

If we are string believers in a faith and the country we live in allows things to happen that are in violation of our beliefs should we comply and support them? I think this question is not as complex as people make it out to be. If you believe in a faith and the country in which you live are putting laws into place that violate your doctrine, then you will just have to voice your disagreement in an appropriate manner. Just because others are accepting these things does not mean you have to. At least we still live in a country that lets us worship and practice our religion freely and does not punish us for being opposed to others beliefs.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/20/AR2009112004180.html