The Christian group that recently had its iPhone app removed from Apple’s software store after gay rights activists called the app “offensive” said it made changes to the free program and is resubmitting it to the ubiquitous tech company.
The Manhattan Declaration, which appealed to Apple and its CEO Steve Jobs personally last week to have its app reinstated, said it has yet to hear back from company representatives. Despite the blackout, however, the Manhattan Declaration said Thursday that it has changed some aspects of the app and resubmitted it, along with a petition signed by 43,000 people, to the company for approval. A petition signed by roughly 8,000 gay rights activists sent to Apple attacking the Manhattan Declaration iPhone app originally led to Apple quietly removing it from its App Store.
“In reading some of the blogs and press on the Manhattan Declaration app, we understand that one element of the app, the poll, seemed particularly offensive to those who asked for the app’s removal,” said Colson Center for Christian Worldview founder and Manhattan Declaration drafter Chuck Colson. “As a sign of goodwill, we have removed the poll and have resubmitted the app without it.”
The original Manhattan Declaration app included a simple but rather one-sided and traditionally Christian poll that users could take. After predictable results, users were directed to the Manhattan Declaration itself, which asks supporters to sign a statement that “speaks in defense of the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and religious liberty.”
Manhattan Declaration spokesman Michelle Farmer told The Daily Caller the group has not considered any contingency plans if Apple again ignores its reinstatement request.
After repeated efforts, representatives from Apple did finally contact TheDC last week but refused to comment beyond a statement that had already been released to media saying the app was removed because it violated Apple’s “developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people.”
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