Evangelical, Orthodox and Catholic leaders who unveiled the "Manhattan Declaration" on Friday insisted the document is not a political ploy.

Rather, it is a testament to their common Christian witness as they stand to uphold what they believe are the three most foundational issues in society – the sanctity of life, the historic understanding of marriage, and religious liberty.

"This is not a politically motivated agenda," Dr Timothy George, one of three leaders who drafted the document, said as he addressed the media. "We are talking out of deep religious principles grounded in the holy Scriptures and the use of reason as we understand it as a God-given gift."

While actions by the Obama administration – including the repeal of the Mexico City Policy, lifted restrictions on funding for embryonic stem cell research, and the most recent passage of the expanded hate crimes law – impact the urgency of the document, it was not released as a confrontational statement.

"The principles that undergird the Manhattan Declaration are enduring," George stressed. "They are motivated and come from the deepest resources of our faith. And in that sense, it's a statement that could've been made last year, 10 years ago, and we think will be relevant 10 ... years from now."

In the works for around eight months, "The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience" was drafted last summer by George; Chuck Colson, founder of The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview; and Dr Robert George, director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University.

Issues addressed in the document are nothing new. But the coalition behind the document is unprecedented, Timothy George noted, as it not only includes people from Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic traditions but also transcends political lines.

"I am a registered Democrat but my commitment to Jesus Christ, to a biblically balanced political agenda and to a consistent ethic of life far transcends any ...political commitments," commented Dr Ronald Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action.

The declaration has been signed by more than 125 leaders who commit to defending fundamental truths about justice and the common good, no matter what, and who refuse to compromise their proclamation of the Gospel – particularly in the areas of human life, marriage and freedom of conscience and religion.