Pa. forum: Stop attacks on religious freedom
Alliance Defending Freedom, Archdiocese of Philadelphia co-sponsor event
Thursday, May 1, 2014
WHO: Representatives from Alliance Defending Freedom, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Focus on the Family, Let Freedom Ring, Knights of Columbus–Pennsylvania State Council, and Pennsylvania Family Institute
WHAT: Religious freedom forum at “The Manhattan Declaration in Philadelphia” event
WHEN: Friday, May 2, 2014, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. EDT
WHERE: F.M. Kirby Auditorium, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., Independence Mall, Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — Alliance Defending Freedom and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are co-sponsoring a religious liberty forum at the National Constitution Center Friday. Alliance Defending Freedom President and CEO Alan Sears will address the current assault on religious freedom, and Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles J. Chaput will preside at the opening invocation.
The forum at “The Manhattan Declaration in Philadelphia” event aims to educate concerned citizens on the urgent threats to religious freedom, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
“Religious liberty is under assault--legally and otherwise--as never before in our 238 years as a nation,” said Sears. “The God-given freedoms that the signers of the Declaration of Independence intended to protect when they put their lives and livelihood on the line are now in our hands. We must take a stand and stop them from slipping away so that Americans can continue to enjoy those freedoms.”
The Manhattan Declaration organization initiated the forum four years ago with the Diocese of Phoenix to cultivate awareness and support for “The Manhattan Declaration,” a 4,700-word declaration in defense of religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Since November 2009, more than 545,000 people have signed the declaration.
Key speakers at the event will include the following:
WHAT: Religious freedom forum at “The Manhattan Declaration in Philadelphia” event
WHEN: Friday, May 2, 2014, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. EDT
WHERE: F.M. Kirby Auditorium, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., Independence Mall, Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — Alliance Defending Freedom and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are co-sponsoring a religious liberty forum at the National Constitution Center Friday. Alliance Defending Freedom President and CEO Alan Sears will address the current assault on religious freedom, and Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles J. Chaput will preside at the opening invocation.
The forum at “The Manhattan Declaration in Philadelphia” event aims to educate concerned citizens on the urgent threats to religious freedom, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
“Religious liberty is under assault--legally and otherwise--as never before in our 238 years as a nation,” said Sears. “The God-given freedoms that the signers of the Declaration of Independence intended to protect when they put their lives and livelihood on the line are now in our hands. We must take a stand and stop them from slipping away so that Americans can continue to enjoy those freedoms.”
The Manhattan Declaration organization initiated the forum four years ago with the Diocese of Phoenix to cultivate awareness and support for “The Manhattan Declaration,” a 4,700-word declaration in defense of religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Since November 2009, more than 545,000 people have signed the declaration.
Key speakers at the event will include the following:
· Alan Sears, Alliance Defending Freedom
· Robert George, Princeton University
· Ryan Anderson, The Heritage Foundation
· Jennifer Marshall, The Heritage Foundation
· Eric Teetsel, The Manhattan Declaration
· Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B. Anthony List
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
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Related Resources
ABOUT Alan Sears
Alan Sears was the first president, CEO, and general counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, leading its efforts from 1993-2017. Across those nearly 25 years, he built an ADF team committed to a comprehensive legal strategy that includes training, funding, and legal advocacy. Sears earned his Juris Doctor from Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. While serving in numerous positions within the Reagan and Bush administrations, he worked for the Department of Justice under Attorneys General William French Smith and Edwin Meese III, including service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Section. Sears was appointed as director of the Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography and served as associate solicitor with the Department of Interior under Secretary Donald Hodel. A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Sears has continued his education with professional instruction at Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Harvard Law School, Harvard Business School, and Pepperdine University. He is a member in good standing with the American, Arizona, California, District of Columbia (inactive), and Kentucky bar associations.