There's the surface message and there's the hidden message

I wrote recently about a manifesto created by 145 Fundie leaders to declare how they will never permit gay marriage and want to roll back abortion rights. I figured it to be the same old stuff. But Timothy Kincaid of Box Turtle Bulletin read this Manhattan Manifesto so we don't have to, then poked and prodded it. He shared his insights, which I summarize.

The signatories are all the usual suspects of Fundie culture warriors -- those who want to impose their views into laws -- as well as those, sacred and secular, who have built a career fighting gays. There is also Bishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, known for giving shelter to Episcopal congregations who don't like the idea of a gay bishop. From the viewpoint of gays it is expected the mix includes Catholic Archbishops, but from the view of most Fundies this is a surprise -- Fundies are overlooking long-term historic animosities to band together to deny rights to gays.

It is useful to see who is missing -- mainline Protestant denominations and the Mormons. And with the biggest backers of the Calif. marriage ban excluded we begin to see what this is all about.

The document says nothing about doctrine and speaks only in grand terms of Christian tradition and religious freedom (which they intend to deny to everyone else). The only commitments are about abortion and gay rights. This is a political alliance.

Stick with me now. Out of the 44 men who have become president, how many have come from the groups represented by this manifesto? Three -- John Kennedy (Catholic), Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter (both Southern Baptist). No Pentecostals and no members of mega-churches.

The signatories are saying it is their turn at political power and they won't be satisfied until they replace the mainline denominations. Now the presence of Akinola on the list makes sense: He is active in undermining the Episcopal Church. It isn't so much a war on gays as a war on the rest of the Christian church in America. This is confirmed by the exclusion of the Mormons, who Fundies don't consider Christian. The manifesto says, "We're the real Christians and we are the ones who accurately proclaim the Word of God."

The abortion issue gets minimal mention, translated roughly as: It's a lost cause at the moment, but if things ever swing our way we'll push for a full ban with no thought for rape or the health of the mother.

But the only other issue is gays. Here are translations of some of the talking points.

* Take steps to combat AIDS around the globe. Though in Africa AIDS is spread through straight sex, in Nigeria (don't forget Akinola) and Uganda there are efforts to use AIDS to criminalize gays and the Uganda bill calls for execution of gays. And for the authors of this manifesto, that's just fine. But don't think such efforts will stay in Africa.

* Whenever the manifesto mentions gay marriage it also mentions multiple-party relationships. A sign they will use that equivalence in upcoming political campaigns? It could backfire.

* There are calls to make whatever sacrifice for Christ as necessary -- as in sacrificing our rights so they can get into heaven. Gee, thanks guys.

* There is a declaration that includes "nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships". They never have. Or will. All new gay rights and marriage laws go out of their way to assure churches this will not be the case (as long as they are not spending taxpayer money). This essentially says expect more political stunts and lies about gay rights and marriage laws and about how the church is persecuted if it can't persecute gays.

I, like Kincaid, am highly annoyed that the Christian message (my personal faith) is being thoroughly and loudly twisted into something ugly, ignoring the principles of love Jesus taught. This manifesto does not speak for me or my faith. This declaration will keep a lot of people, especially a lot of young people, out of the church. And not just the denominations that support this declaration.

This Manhattan Manifesto may prompt something good. I'll let Kincaid have the last word. He says it well.

It is possible that out of this declaration of war, the moderate and liberal branches of the faith may find common cause, if nothing else in defense of their own good name. Perhaps they will decide that they have a purpose and meaning in modern America and will let go of residual guilt and angst and take up the mantle of protector of the oppressed and champion of justice and mercy.