A controversial anti-gay iPhone app has been removed from the App store after outrage from the community, however you can’t please everyone and it seems Conservative Christians in America are demanding Steve Jobs make a public apology and explain Apple’s decision.
The app actively promoted ‘The Manhattan Declaration’, which opposes gay marriage, abortion and support civil disobedience. When users installed the app they were asked whether they “believe in the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman.”
This understandably angered gay rights activist which spread like wildfire on the internet. Bloggers supported their requests to remove the app and the online petition site change.org received over 7,000 signatories on a public petition to remove the app.
Eventually Apple refused the groups app, stopping them using iTunes to promote their ideas. Apple spokesperson Natalie Kerris said “(the application) violates our developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people.”
Like most things, this has ‘upset’ Evangelical Christians who have made the unreasonable to Steve Jobs. A well known Evangelical Christian Chuck Colson has reportedly sent a letter to Steve Jobs ‘demanding’ that the app be reinstated on the app store.
What do you make of this?
This article inaccurately labels the Manhattan Declaration application as "anti-gay". There is nothing in this application that is anti-gay. Get it right!
Wow.. the rhetoric in this article is astounding. Let me ask a question: Did you read the Manhattan Declaration before you wrote this? Are you aware of what it says and how it says it? Are you aware that it contains the following:
"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."
Are you aware that there are over half a million signatures on the declaration, compared to the 7000 against it?
it's one thing to have a civil discussion about our differences, but it's quite another to start throwing around labels and insults when they aren't warranted. The Manhattan Declaration is not hate speach; it's a clear and respectful statement of Christian belief.