Our Coalition

Statement of Christian Faith and Values

The Corporation operates through Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical
Christians act[ing] together in obedience to the one true God, the triune God
of holiness and love, who has laid total claim on our lives and by that claim
calls us with believers in all ages and all nations to seek and defend the good
of all who bear His image. We call upon all people of goodwill, believers and
non-believers alike, to consider carefully and reflect critically on the issues we
here address as we, with Saint Paul, commend this appeal to everyone’s
conscience in the sight of God.

While the whole scope of Christian moral concern, including a special concern
for the poor and vulnerable, claims our attention, we are especially troubled
that in our nation today the lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly
are severely threatened; that the institution of marriage, already buffeted by
promiscuity, infidelity, and divorce, has now been redefined to accommodate
fashionable ideologies; that freedom of religion and the rights of conscience
are gravely jeopardized by those who would use the instruments of coercion to
compel persons of faith to compromise their deepest convictions.

Because the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as a union of
husband and wife, and the freedom of conscience and religion are foundational
principles of justice and the common good, we are compelled by our Christian
faith to speak and act in their defense. In this declaration we affirm: 1) the
profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every human being as a creature
fashioned in the very image of God, possessing inherent rights of equal dignity
and life; 2) marriage as a conjugal union of man and woman, ordained by God
from the creation, and historically understood by believers and non-believers
alike, to be the most basic institution in society and; 3) religious liberty, which
is grounded in the character of God, the example of Christ, and the inherent
freedom and dignity of human beings created in the divine image.

We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial
differences to affirm our right— and, more importantly, to embrace our
obligation—to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each
other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or
political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence. It is our duty to
proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in
season and out of season. May God help us not to fail in that duty” (Excerpts
from The Manhattan Declaration, released November 20, 2009, edited with
permission and in context).

RTLACO’s THREE CORE PRINCIPLES

​1. We are dedicated to building an authentic grassroots organization. Our coalition will foster and encourage direct member input and representation at every stage.

2.  We believe that a statewide organization should work to empower its local Pro-life member organizations to maximize their impact in the communities they serve and to assist them in developing the next generation of Pro-life leaders.

3.  We are convinced that a statewide association should reflect the consensus views of its member organizations.