ISSUES: Christians Hit Back at Apple for Blocking 'Anti-Gay' App

Christian leaders are crying foul over Apple's decision to pull an iPhone app opposing gay marriage from its app store for being "offensive to large numbers of people." They have written to Steve Jobs to protest the move, and urged supporters of the "Manhattan Declaration" app to sign a petition to reinstate it, ABC reports—and 16,000 people have done so. That's more than twice as many signatures as were on the petition that spurred Apple to remove the app.

"Apple pulled the app shortly after a small but very vocal protest by those who favor gay marriage and abortion," the Manhattan Declaration writers said in a press release. "These groups claim that the Manhattan Declaration promotes 'homophobia' and that its supporters are 'anti-gay.' We emphasize with great sincerity that 'disagreement' is not 'gay-bashing.'" The app contains the text of the Manhattan Declaration, which urges Christians to "resist sexual immorality," continuing: "We acknowledge that there are those who are disposed towards homosexual and polyamorous conduct and relationships, just as there are those who are disposed towards other forms of immoral conduct."