Welcome to Breakpoint, a daily look at an ever-changing culture through the lens of

unchanging truth.

For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street.

It was 15 years ago that a group of Christian leaders announced the Manhattan Declaration, a statement of

Christian conscience that was authored by Chuck Coulson, Dr Timothy George of Beeson Divinity

School, and Dr Robert George of Princeton University.

The statement clarified where Christians must stand on three fundamental issues.

And over 500,000 signers agreed.

Committing to stand for the dignity of life, the sanctity of

lifelong marriage between a man and a woman, and for conscience that's ultimately

alleged to God, not the state. At the time Chuck Colson described the purpose of the Manhattan Declaration

this way. Quote, the Manhattan Declaration is a wake-up call, a call to conscience for the church.

It's also a crystal clear message to civil authorities that we will not,

under any circumstances, stand idly by as our religious freedom comes under assault."

His words about abortion, which predate the Dobbs decision that overturned

Roe v. Wade were quite prescient. However, at the same time he underestimated as most of us did

at the time just how much the public was committed to sexual freedom and moral relativism,

and how that would overwhelm pro-life sentiments.

Here's Chuck again, quote, the declaration notes with sadness that although public sentiment has moved in a pro-life direction,

pro-abortion ideology prevails today in our government.

Both in the administration and in Congress, there are many who want to make abortions legal at any stage of

fetal development and provide abortions at taxpayer expense."

...