I do some creative work in my spare time and use a number of Apple products. Why?  Over the years I have found both the hardware and software applications to be dependable and effective.

I expect Apple products to work.  I generally don’t expect Apple to share my worldview.

But recently, I have faced a dilemma regarding Apple’s hostility toward the Manhattan Declaration.  I pulled the following quote from the home page at www.manhattandeclaration.org.

“Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family. It was in this tradition that a group of prominent Christian clergy, ministry leaders, and scholars released the Manhattan Declaration on November 20, 2009 at a press conference in Washington, DC. The 4,700-word declaration speaks in defense of the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty. It issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere firmly to their convictions in these three areas.”

What’s the beef with Apple?  The Manhattan Declaration created an app for the iPhone only to have it pulled by Apple in response to some well targeted complaints.  Apple said, “the app contains references or commentary about a religious, cultural or ethnic group that are defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited or likely to expose the targeted group to harm or violence will be rejected.  We have evaluated the content of this application and consider its contents to be objectionable and potentially harmful to others.”

Apple has a right to reject an app.  It’s their store.  But is an organization that stands for Life, Marriage and Religious Liberty really that controversial?

Unfortunately today the answer may be yes.