Religious leaders urge for civility in debate
Adelle M. Banks/Religion News Service
Issue date: 9/13/09 Section: Divine Intervention
WASHINGTON - Mark DeMoss, to borrow a line from the U2 song, still hasn't found what he's looking for. The veteran Christian public relations executive couldn't find it last year when he advised Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.
It was missing again in the controversial battles over Proposition 8, the California measure that put an end to same-sex marriages last November.
And he's having a hard time finding it in the heat of the debates over healthcare reform.
"Civility isn't ruling the day," said DeMoss, who represents leading evangelicals like Franklin Graham and Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson.
That's why, just before Inauguration Day, DeMoss joined Democratic consultant Lanny Davis to launch The Civility Project, an online forum that helps people who disagree be less disagreeable.
As people shout over each other at town hall meetings, with some resorting to name-calling and even defacing a Democratic congressman's sign with a Nazi swastika, DeMoss and others say religious leaders can play a role in cooling the ranting and rhetoric.
"Many Christians like to call ourselves followers of Christ," said DeMoss, a Southern Baptist in Atlanta. "I can't be a follower of Christ if I'm shouting at you or interrupting your meeting, and I certainly don't look like one when I do that."
He said the principles on his site - to be civil in public discourse, respect those with whom you disagree, and stand against incivility - can be applied by people of faith in situations ranging from political discourse to personal relationships.
The project mirrors a similar effort by Johns Hopkins University professor P.M. Forni. DeMoss lists Forni's books as useful resources.
Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, president of the New York-based National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, said faith leaders can use their particular traditions to nurture compassion and human dignity in debate. He suggests not to get into an opponent's face and "preach about what's right with a capital 'R.'
It was missing again in the controversial battles over Proposition 8, the California measure that put an end to same-sex marriages last November.
And he's having a hard time finding it in the heat of the debates over healthcare reform.
"Civility isn't ruling the day," said DeMoss, who represents leading evangelicals like Franklin Graham and Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson.
That's why, just before Inauguration Day, DeMoss joined Democratic consultant Lanny Davis to launch The Civility Project, an online forum that helps people who disagree be less disagreeable.
As people shout over each other at town hall meetings, with some resorting to name-calling and even defacing a Democratic congressman's sign with a Nazi swastika, DeMoss and others say religious leaders can play a role in cooling the ranting and rhetoric.
"Many Christians like to call ourselves followers of Christ," said DeMoss, a Southern Baptist in Atlanta. "I can't be a follower of Christ if I'm shouting at you or interrupting your meeting, and I certainly don't look like one when I do that."
He said the principles on his site - to be civil in public discourse, respect those with whom you disagree, and stand against incivility - can be applied by people of faith in situations ranging from political discourse to personal relationships.
The project mirrors a similar effort by Johns Hopkins University professor P.M. Forni. DeMoss lists Forni's books as useful resources.
Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, president of the New York-based National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, said faith leaders can use their particular traditions to nurture compassion and human dignity in debate. He suggests not to get into an opponent's face and "preach about what's right with a capital 'R.'
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