David:

ECT, redo? Hardly.

There are no Catholics in this document. There are several evangelicals and the signatory list is growing by the hour.

Here is the question: Can we/should we engage in some self-reflection about how we engage as believer-citizens on issues of the day, both spiritual and political? The Manifesto argues, "Yes, we should."

Jesus has much more to say about a whole host of issues than the ones that have been targeted over the last few decades, INCLUDING the ones that have been discussed and defended (sometimes very well, sometimes not so well). Does tone matter as well as content? I think so. To these questions the Manifesto also calls for reflection.

Rather than simply dragging out the old labels and categories (Liberal, conservative, Catholic, atheist, ECT), can we ask what in the document is a problem or what is well said? Rather than being concerned with who was initially asked to sign a document that was designed to invite ANYONE to sign, should one not ask if one should sign on and why or why not? Can or should one as a believer-citizen today engage with conviction for their values without doing things that fuel the present cultural war? Is this question worth asking and pondering? The Manifesto says, "Yes."

dlb