Michael McManus (born June 11, 1941) is the author of "Ethics & Religion", a socially conservative but economic liberal syndicated opinion column which appears in several small and mid-range US publications. The column, archives of which are linked below, is shaped much like a 'gathering point' of views; quotes from prominent conservative activists make up the bulk of each. McManus, an
evangelical Christian, is also the founder and president of Marriage Savers, a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
organization that purports to prepare couples for marriage. McManus previously wrote syndicated columns called "Solutions" and the "Northern Perspective."
Stance on issues
McManus has addressed many modern social, ethical and political issues in his column. Among his published views are:
*Gay marriage: McManus has described
LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term is a ...
relationships as "sordid", "tawdry", "lewd" and a "perversion". He opposes both
gay marriage
Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being Mexico, constituting ...
and
civil unions
A civil union (also known as a civil partnership) is a legally recognized arrangement similar to marriage, created primarily as a means to provide recognition in law for same-sex couples. Civil unions grant some or all of the rights of marriage ...
, or any legal recognition of same-sex relationships, pointing to "the tyranny of unelected judges redefining marriage" and claims that same-sex parenting is "harmful to children."
*Abortion: McManus is definitively
anti-abortion
Anti-abortion movements, also self-styled as pro-life or abolitionist movements, are involved in the abortion debate advocating against the practice of abortion and its legality. Many anti-abortion movements began as countermovements in respons ...
.
*Divorce: McManus is an opponent of the
no-fault divorce
In a no-fault divorce the dissolution of a marriage does not require a showing of wrongdoing by either party. Laws providing for no-fault divorce allow a family court to grant a divorce in response to a petition by either party of the marriage w ...
law. He believes that "Most divorces are filed by one person who alleges incompatibility, while the other spouse wants to save the marriage. Sadly, divorce is always granted. This column has long advocated that in cases involving children, when adultery or abuse is not alleged, divorce should only be granted if there is 'mutual consent' by husband and wife. What was entered into by two people, should not be ended, unless both people agree."
*Gun control: McManus is critical of what he describes as America's "weak gun control" and says it is time to "re-introduce an assault weapon ban, a national limit of one gun a month to anyone, an expansion of the
Brady law to include gun show sales and a required check on mental backgrounds of buyers."
*Pornography: McManus has said that it is a major factor in breakup of marriages.
Government payout controversy
On January 28, 2005, it was discovered that McManus was one of three media figures to accept money from the
George W. Bush administration
George W. Bush's tenure as the 43rd president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2001, and ended on January 20, 2009. Bush, a Republican from Texas, took office following a narrow victory over Democratic in ...
for targeted public endorsements of government policy.
McManus was the third person to be implicated in an article by Tom Hamburger of ''
The Los Angeles Times
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
''. It was revealed that McManus, who is a self-described "marriage advocate", was paid through a subcontractor of the
Department of Health and Human Services to endorse a Bush-approved initiative defining marriage as strictly between a man and a woman. The payments were said to be $4,000 plus travel expenses, with an additional $49,000 paid to his organization, "Marriage Savers". McManus did not disclose this payment to his readers.
See also
*
Armstrong Williams
Armstrong Williams (born February 5, 1962) is an American political commentator, entrepreneur, author, and talk show host. Williams writes a nationally syndicated conservative newspaper column, has hosted a daily radio show, and hosts a nationa ...
*
Maggie Gallagher
Margaret Gallagher (born September 14, 1960) is an American writer, socially conservative commentator, and activist. She wrote a syndicated column for Universal Press Syndicate from 1995 to 2013 and has written several books. Gallagher founde ...
*
Bush administration payment of columnists
The Bush administration payment of columnists refers to the payment of public funds to right-wing media commentators by several U.S. executive departments under Cabinet officials to promote various policies of U.S. President George W. Bush's adm ...
References
External links
''Salon'' - Third columnist caught with hand in the Bush till
* ttp://www.ethicsandreligion.com/current.htm ''Ethics and Religion'' - web-based archive of columns*
https://divorcereform.us/mike-mcmanus/http://www.marriagesavers.org/
{{DEFAULTSORT:McManus, Mike
1940s births
Living people
American columnists
Christian media
Journalism ethics
American activists