Apple Ignores Request to Restore Christian App to Its Store

Letter to Apple Founder/CEO Steve Jobs, Attempts to Have Phone Conversation Are Disregarded; Manhattan Declaration Calls for Supporters to Appeal to Apple

LANSDOWNE, Va., Dec. 1, 2010—The three primary drafters of the Manhattan Declaration have sent a letter to Steve Jobs at Apple asking that its app be reinstated to the company's iTunes and iPhone application store.  That letter, sent on Monday, Nov. 29, and numerous attempts to have a dialogue via phone have been ignored.  Now leaders with the Manhattan Declaration are asking its supporters to get involved and pressure Jobs and Apple to reinstate the Christian app.   

Despite having approved and posted a Manhattan Declaration app on its online store in October - and giving the app a 4+ rating for "no objectionable content" - Apple quietly pulled the app from its site over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  Although Apple has not communicated directly with Manhattan Declaration officials, a public relations representative from Apple told media that the app violated Apple's developer guidelines by being "offensive to large groups of people."  Apple's action followed a small but vocal protest from pro-gay "marriage" and pro-abortion groups who have mischaracterized the Manhattan Declaration.  More than 478,000 Christian clergy, ministry leaders, scholars and laypeople representing dozens of Christian denominations have signed the statement since it was made public on Nov. 20, 2009. 

The letter to Apple was signed by Colson Center for Christian Worldview Founder Chuck Colson, Princeton University Professor of Jurisprudence Dr. Robert George and Beeson Divinity School Dean Dr. Timothy George.  It urged Jobs to reinstate the app that is based on the 4,732-word statement that affirms the sanctity of human life, marriage as defined by the union of one man and one woman, and religious liberty and freedom of conscience.  The Manhattan Declaration issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere to their convictions and informs civil authorities that the signers will not - under any circumstance - abandon their Christian consciences.  The Apple app offered users the ability to read the Manhattan Declaration and sign it online.  The statement can also be read and signed at ManhattanDeclaration.org.

"With 300,000+ available apps, it is surprising to us that there couldn't continue to be an app focused on three views that millions of Americans have in common," said Colson, referring to views on the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage and religious freedom.  "Apple originally found that the app contains no objectionable materials, and in the spirit of civil public dialogue, we call on Apple to reinstate the Manhattan Declaration app and allow these issues to be debated in a reasoned and respectful manner."

Manhattan Declaration leaders are now calling on supporters to get involved by emailing Jobs at steve@apple.com or calling the company at 408.996.1010 to voice their desire the see the app restored.  Encouraging them to communicate in a civil and respectful manner, the statement's drafters also urge supporters to sign a petition aimed at Apple at ManhattanDeclaration.org and to tweet and post about the issue on Facebook and other social media.

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MEDIA NOTE:  The full text of the Manhattan Declaration with a list of signers is available at ManhattanDeclaration.org.  To schedule an interview with a Manhattan Declaration representative, request an interview online or call (770) 813-0000.   

 

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