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TechnoratiIn such a model the government is not to be a sponsor, coach or cheerleader for a particular religious or political viewpoint — nor is it to be a censor or suppressor of any religious or political viewpoint.
Finally, I cannot help but ask one last question: When the Manifesto calls for evangelicals to engage and “work with all who share these ideals and care for the common good,” are they unaware of the pervasive extent to which this is already occurring, and has been occurring for many years?
For example, I have had the privilege of working with extremely broad coalitions across religious and political lines for various pieces of legislation such as: the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (1993); the International Religious Freedom Act (1998); the Prison Rape Elimination Act (2003); the North Korean Human Rights Act (2004); as well as various child pornography enforcement policies. Currently pending legislation where evangelicals are involved in extremely broad religious and political coalitions include: the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (H.R. 1431); the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Act (H.R. 3887); and the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (S. 625), also known as “The Kennedy-Cornyn Bill.”
An Evangelical Manifesto is an eloquent document with substantial things to say — most of which I affirm. However, given the concerns outlined above, I have to say, regrettably, I cannot sign this document.
This column was first published by Baptist Press.
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Dr. Richard Land is president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the Southern Baptist Convention's official entity assigned to address social, moral, and ethical concerns, with particular attention to their impact on American families and their faith.
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Agree: 
Disagree: 
