Career
He was a clergyman, factory worker and logger by career. His first attempt at entering federal politics was unsuccessful as he was defeated at British Columbia"s Cowichan—Malahat—The Islands electoral district in the 1979 federal election. In parliament, Manly served as the New Democratic Party"s Aboriginal Affairs critic.
Manly also unsuccessfully attempted to enter British Columbia politics for the NDP in 1969 at the provincial Prince Rupert riding.
He has remained active in peace and social justice issues and has engaged in Central American solidarity work on behalf of the United Church. In 1997, he wrote The Wounds of Manuel Saquic: Biblical Reflections from Guatemala.
On 20 October 2012, Manly was arrested by Israel for trying to breach a blockade of the Gaza Strip on the ship Estelle. He was released on 25 October, saying that he suffered only minor indignities.