Christian group campaigns to have anti-gay app reinstated

Apple removed the Manhattan Declaration app from its iTunes store last week after media attention but the Christian group is calling for supporters to sign a petition to have it returned to the site.

The Manhattan Declaration is a manifesto released in 2009 by Christian and Catholic leaders which rails against the “erosion” of marriage.

According to the group’s website, 15,500 people have signed the online petition – more than twice the number who signed a petition to have the app removed.

The declaration says that gay relationships are “immoral” and that same-sex marriages are equivalent to sanctioning incest.

However, the group behind it says that it is “civil, reasoned, and respectful” and does not “promote hate or homophobia [and] is not anti-gay”.

The app asked users whether they agreed with four statements on abortion and same-sex marriage and those who answered that they are pro-choice and pro-gay marriage were told that they were incorrect. It also had links to read and sign up to the full declaration

Apple initially rated the app 4+ , meaning that it contains “no objectionable content” but removed it over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris told CNET: “We removed the Manhattan Declaration app from the App Store because it violates our developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people.”