Maybe they should should have waited until they were sued before they removed this, that would have made more sense.

quote I got the news on my iPhone. Apple had pulled the Manhattan Declaration app from its app store. The reason? According to Apple's PR department, the Manhattan Declaration - a statement of conscience signed by half a million Christians in support of the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage and religious freedom - was "offensive to large groups of people." Well, that was news to me. After all, the Manhattan Declaration had received a 4-plus rating from Apple, meaning it was free from objectionable content. But over the Thanksgiving holiday, some advocates of same-sex marriage petitioned Apple, saying that the Manhattan Declaration promoted hate and homophobia. So Apple pulled the app. It was a triumph of political correctness and ad hominem attack over civil discourse. And I am saddened - and very concerned - that a pioneering company like Apple, whose products are used by untold millions to interact and communicate, chose to shut down the dialogue over one of the defining cultural issues of our time. I was especially disturbed that a statement such as the Manhattan Declaration could be labeled as offensive hate speech by anyone. As I, along with Robert George of Princeton and Timothy George of Beeson Divinity School, wrote in a letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the declaration is written in respectful language. It engages the beliefs of those who differ in an honest, thoughtful and civil manner. It contains no name-calling or offensive rhetoric. The Manhattan Declaration restates, firmly but without animosity toward anyone, central moral teachings of the Bible and Catholic, Orthodox and evangelical Protestant traditions. It appeals to reason and the common good. And it openly declares the dignity of every human being: "We acknowledge that there are those who are disposed toward homosexual and polyamorous conduct and relationships. ... We have compassion for those so disposed; we respect them as human beings possessing profound, inherent, and equal dignity." Yet, at the behest of an outraged few, Apple deemed the Manhattan Declaration offensive. But if the Manhattan Declaration's positions are offensive, then so are those of mainstream Christianity for the past 2,000 years. There is no doubt that the half a million signers of the Manhattan Declaration - along with the 50-plus Catholic bishops, numerous evangelical leaders and the metropolitan of the American Orthodox Church - would disagree strongly with those who support same-sex marriage. But disagreement is not hate. If the Manhattan Declaration's positions alone are enough to have its app removed, then I have to wonder whether Apple is considering removing other Bible-based - or even Jewish or Islamic - apps from its store. Apple has every right to decide what to offer in its app store and what not to offer. But it is chilling that such a culture-shaping company would so quickly take sides in a debate. There is something more at stake here than whether Apple hosts a particular app; whether or not we are capable as a society of maintaining the free marketplace of ideas. Because the open and civil exchange of ideas is essential to democracy and a free society. The kind of society that has produced entrepreneurial geniuses like Jobs.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 12-11-2010).]

Heck yea it was offensive to large groups. They are one of the most vocal Anti-Gay groups in the US at the moment. They seriously underestimated how many LGBT's are out there to fight them. I am not gay, but I have a lot of friends and clients who are. I voted for the app to be taken down as well. It was nothing more than hate mongering.

EDIT.. Should note..
This was not so much a Christian app as it was an Anti Gay app.

[This message has been edited by 8Ball (edited 12-11-2010).]

Update.
Christians Submit Revised Manhattan Declaration App to Apple
http://www.christianpost.co...ration-app-to-apple/

quote The drafters of the Manhattan Declaration on Wednesday submitted a revised app to Apple after the company pulled its original one for being "offensive" to some. "As a sign of goodwill, we have removed the poll and have resubmitted the app without it," said Chuck Colson, one of the three drafters of the ecumenical document that upholds the traditional understanding of marriage and the sanctity of life. Colson determined that the poll was what sparked the most outrage among those who called for the app's removal. The survey consisted of four questions – including "Do you believe in protecting life from the moment of conception? Y or N" and "Do you support same-sex relationships? Y or N" – and 25 points were awarded for each "correct" answer. A pro-abortion or pro-gay marriage response was considered incorrect. The Manhattan Declaration app was initially approved in October and rated as a 4+, which indicated that it contained "no objectionable material." But opponents of the app started a petition on Change.org demanding that Apple remove the "anti-gay, anti-choice" application. It was pulled over the Thanksgiving holiday. An Apple spokeswoman told CNET that the app was removed "because it violates our developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people." Since then, Christians have been calling out Apple for its decision. Stuart Shepard of Citizen Link, which is Focus on the Family's advocacy arm, demonstrated the absurdity of the decision in a video. "Yep, marriage is too offensive an idea for Apple," he said. "I can take the easy route and point to the many embarrassing and objectionable apps that are still available that would offend actual 'large groups of people' but we all know this is really only about a certain group of people." He argued that Apple was stifling free expression and pondered whether it would stop at the app store. "If I call my wife on one of your iPhones to say 'I love you too and I'm glad I married you,' will the phone cut me off in the middle of the call?" he posed. "No, wait, it does that already." "As far as the Bible apps in your store, will you only delete the verses you find offensive or the entire Bible?" he continued. "And at what point will you start kicking me out of your store because I contain the beliefs that you say offend large groups of people or will you agree with us that having healthy debate is healthy." The Manhattan Declaration was unveiled last November, outlining principles that uphold the sanctity of life, the historic understanding of marriage, and religious liberty. It has been endorsed by prominent evangelical, Orthodox and Catholic leaders and so far nearly half a million signatures have been added to it. Colson insists that the declaration contains no offensive or inflammatory language and does not promote hate or homophobia. "[T]he Manhattan Declaration declares that God loves all people," he said. The only thing offensive about the document, he offered, is the biblical view of sexual morality. Along with a revised app, a petition, signed by over 44,000 people, was also submitted to Steve Jobs of Apple. The petition urges Apple to reinstate the app.

If this keeps up, one day Christianity will be outlawed.

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[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 12-11-2010).]

Are we forcing Gay people to down load the APP and read it? If something is offensive to you then don't read it.
For the record I don't like Christians burning books any better.

Live and let live. I don't have a problem as long as you leave me alone.

Christians claim discrimination against their religion from people that have nothing to do with it. What was that? If its offensive, don't read it?

Gays claim discrimination against their being from people that have nothing to do it. Notice how that logic suddenly changes.

I'll give a **** about how christians feel when they, as a group get off the divine horse and let the LBGT community live their lives. No one is forcing a c.ock down the ministers throats, the ministers are doing that themselves

I'm so ****ing tired of the guns, god and gays crowd.

There are good ideas and there are stupid ideas but in America, EVERYONE has the right to believe in whatever hairbrained idea they like without fear of persecution...SUPPOSEDLY.

Now I want to know where this hatred and control freakishness is coming from. I had a thread just the other day asking about forum rules of behavior trashed in no time by trolls who desire to control things over their heads and even after ignoring the thread after the first 20 posts, the hate raged on for 2 more pages before even Cliff had enough of it. Can't anyone express a controversial opinion anymore without being assualted by these A**holes!??!?!

Censorship, no matter how you package it, is still censorship.
If you are not forced to partake, why complain?

quote Originally posted by Gridlock: No one is forcing a c.ock down the ministers throats, the ministers are doing that themselves

Is that an App? <-- edit to fix my smiley

I think there is enough legal reasons to allow Gays to have the same rights as everyone else. But I don't think they should be able to force another organization to give them the same rights inside their doors and I think thats what this is about. They cant control the Christian community with laws so they will control them with where they can and force the issue.
There are more then enough ways to give them the same rights as those that are married without forcing the Cristian community to embrace them. If coming out of the closet forces you to leave an organization then thats a choice you have to make based on your life style.

[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 12-11-2010).]

quote Originally posted by avengador1: Maybe they should should have waited until they were sued before they removed this, that would have made more sense.

Why is that? If they wait, they would have had to pay out to fight it. ( yes, i know they have attorney on staff, but its the same principle ).

quote Why is that? If they wait, they would have had to pay out to fight it. ( yes, i know they have attorney on staff, but its the same principle ).

I think they pulled the app to be politically correct. This is just another example of the tail wagging the dog. Once they got some real complaints or threats of litigation, then they could have apologized and pulled it. Caving in and pulling it at the first sign of trouble isn't the answer. It discourages open discussion and is censorship. It's taking the easy way out.
For the record, my views don't mirror those of the church 100%. If that makes me a bad Christian, so be it.

[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 12-11-2010).]

what is LBGT?

quote Originally posted by maryjane: what is LBGT?

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender.< wrong order. It isn't a grand touring car, unfortunately.

[This message has been edited by WhiteDevil88 (edited 12-11-2010).]

.........also

Actually.. they did not pull it at the first sign of trouble. They pulled it when they received several THOUSAND complaints about the app.

quote Originally posted by Toddster: There are good ideas and there are stupid ideas but in America, EVERYONE has the right to believe in whatever hairbrained idea they like without fear of persecution...SUPPOSEDLY. Now I want to know where this hatred and control freakishness is coming from. I had a thread just the other day asking about forum rules of behavior trashed in no time by trolls who desire to control things over their heads and even after ignoring the thread after the first 20 posts, the hate raged on for 2 more pages before even Cliff had enough of it. Can't anyone express a controversial opinion anymore without being assualted by these A**holes!??!?!

So, those are what controversial posts are? I figured you were spewing "hatred and control freakishness". My bad bro.

quote Originally posted by WhiteDevil88: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender.< wrong order. It isn't a grand touring car, unfortunately.

That depends on what one's used to DRIVIN'!

quote Originally posted by Toddster: There are good ideas and there are stupid ideas but in America, EVERYONE has the right to believe in whatever harebrained idea they like without fear of persecution...SUPPOSEDLY. Now I want to know where this hatred and control freakishness is coming from. I had a thread just the other day asking about forum rules of behavior trashed in no time by trolls who desire to control things over their heads and even after ignoring the thread after the first 20 posts, the hate raged on for 2 more pages before even Cliff had enough of it. Can't anyone express a controversial opinion anymore without being assaulted by these A**holes!??!?!

you mean there might be a hateful control freak a$$hole here on the forum? making misstatements, misrepresenting, trying to drive people away? please, todd, protect us! only you can save us!

quote Originally posted by Jake_Dragon: Is that an App? <-- edit to fix my smiley

That was just to funny.

quote Originally posted by WhiteDevil88: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender.< wrong order. It isn't a grand touring car, unfortunately.

Lesbian Bisexual Grand Touring ........I think I had one of those when I lived in Cali.

Surprised there aren't more 'homebrew' iphone/ipad apps

[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 12-13-2010).]

quote Originally posted by Toddster: There are good ideas and there are stupid ideas but in America, EVERYONE has the right to believe in whatever hairbrained idea they like without fear of persecution...SUPPOSEDLY. Now I want to know where this hatred and control freakishness is coming from. I had a thread just the other day asking about forum rules of behavior trashed in no time by trolls who desire to control things over their heads and even after ignoring the thread after the first 20 posts, the hate raged on for 2 more pages before even Cliff had enough of it. Can't anyone express a controversial opinion anymore without being assualted by these A**holes!??!?!

Man, you just don't know when to quit, do you?

quote Originally posted by Toddster in This thread: Like it or not I actually provide a valuable service here. Euterpe is no where to be seen. Why? Because her personal attacks got out of control and I started a one man war to get rid of her. It cost me a few negatives from her cronies but she's gone. Ed'sB52/I'm Back? gone. Shaun Hammett? Gone. Stillwell? Gone...well, back again but give me time. My tactics may be offensive to some but they get results and the forum is a better place without these people. Now you may have a point if you question who I am to judge other's this way. I can't deny that I use my own standards (in conjunction with the PFF rules). That may or may not be fair. But I can live with my conscience. Just as your neighborhood needs garbage men and oceans need sharks, forums need men willing to clean house to preserve order and the freedoms of other posters. Cliff can't do it all. He needs to be seen to be impartial. And the longevity of this forum when SOOOOOO many others have failed is due in part to people like me who are not afraid to tell a trouble maker to get lost and stay on their asses like a pit bull until they clean up their act or leave.

Says the pot to the kettle!

quote Originally posted by Toddster: There are good ideas and there are stupid ideas but in America, EVERYONE has the right to believe in whatever hairbrained idea they like without fear of persecution...SUPPOSEDLY. Now I want to know where this hatred and control freakishness is coming from. I had a thread just the other day asking about forum rules of behavior trashed in no time by trolls who desire to control things over their heads and even after ignoring the thread after the first 20 posts, the hate raged on for 2 more pages before even Cliff had enough of it. Can't anyone express a controversial opinion anymore without being assualted by these A**holes!??!?!