If so, you are “objectionable and potentially harmful to others.” At least, that’s what Apple thinks.

The Manhattan Declaration is a short doctrinal statement that was put together by religious leaders from many, widely ranging Christian denominations. It is a “Call of Christian Conscience” that lays out three simple, but powerful statements: Regardless of our differences, Christians must stand up against government and cultural pressure and stand for 1) the sanctity of all human life, 2) the sanctity of marriage, and 3) the right of religious expression. I’ve posted about it before.

You can, via their website, sign the declaration to say that you too have those beliefs and are willing to stand up for them. They also created a free iPhone app that would allow you to read and sign the declaration as well as keep up with the latest news from the organization. Apple has twice refused to put the app on their App Store.

Their most recent rejection letter explained it thus:

“[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.”

Without explicitly saying so, I believe Apple is objecting to “the sanctity of marriage” because that is, without explicitly saying so, anti-gay-marriage. But to say that you “consider its contents to be objectionable and potentially harmful to others” is flat stupid and bigoted at it’s roots. To say that I, as a Bible believing Christian, am potentially harmful is outrageously offensive. What is the difference between saying that a Christian is, by default, a violent gay basher and saying that a black man is, by default, a violent thief? To me, both of those sentiments are offensive and stupid.

I’m not a Mac man, never have been, and I’m not calling for boycotts or torches and pitchforks. But I feel it’s worth calling attention to this so that my many Mac friends can make their own decisions about it.

[ed. At the time of this writing, the Manhattan Declaration website is not responding. Either this news has prompted a lot of attention or they are getting a DOS attack. Neither would surprise me.]