TIA: Statements Concerning Challenge of Civility

Challenge of Civility

Joint Statement by Rev. Dr. Albert Pennybacker and Mr. Terry Anderson
As we enter the final stages of this highly charged campaign season, it is critical that those seeking our votes take responsibility for the consequences of their words. It is essential for the health of our democracy and our nation. Political rhetoric can unite and inspire or divide and destroy. Our political leaders can work towards healing and renewal or they can incite malice and cynicism. It is their choice, and when we listen it becomes our choice.

Yet with the growing intensity of the campaign season, the political rhetoric grows meaner. Too often, religion becomes the weapon of choice. Self-anointed righteousness leads some candidates to assume an air of moral superiority. Some overreach even to claim divine endorsement. Wrapping one's destructive rhetoric in the banner of religion does not make its divisiveness any more acceptable. It diminishes our political system and serves to exploit our nation's rich religious tradition.

It is not just the matter of questioning candidates who claim an exclusive and arrogant religious endorsement. It is about changing the tone of our national debate.

That is why The Interfaith Alliance, a grassroots organization representing mainstream people of faith, is issuing a challenge today to every candidate in America -- starting with our three major presidential candidates - to set a new standard for our political discourse, to take a pledge of civility in this election season.

Our pledge asks candidates to affirm the positive role religion plays in our democracy, acknowledging that religion best contributes to our public life when it works for reconciliation, inspires common effort, promotes community and responsibility, and upholds the dignity of all human beings. We ask candidates to repudiate the use of religion as a weapon to demonize those whose religious or political beliefs differ from theirs. We ask every candidate and every citizen to challenge anyone or any organization claiming their candidate is religiously superior, or somehow sanctioned by God.

Our pledge asks all Congressional, Senatorial and Presidential candidates to distance themselves from any organization or individual practicing or advocating exclusion or intolerance. And we ask them to conduct their campaigns without appealing to prejudice or discrimination. After the uplifting calls by the Presidential candidates in San Diego and Chicago for civility and tolerance we are hopeful this pledge will be met with their signatures and enthusiastic adherence.

President Clinton, Mr. Dole and Mr. Perot can set an example for the scores of other federal candidates who will face this challenge. At the state and local levels our Interfaith Alliance organizations -- over 100 strong -- are asking candidates for the school board, the City council and the state legislature to step above the fray and sign this pledge. We urge the Presidential candidates to lend their coattails and their bully pulpit to this effort. Throughout October and early November we will educate voters as to who responded to our call for civility and we will monitor, encourage and admonish to keep this pledge alive and real.

Our nation's proud tradition of religious liberty has allowed a country of Christians, Jews, Muslims and countless other faith communities to flourish. Here, people of different faiths live peacefully together on a constitutionally level playing field. In a world where so much blood has been shed over claims of moral superiority; where divisive political rhetoric has torn nations apart, we pray that America's leaders will join us in this pledge of civility and lead us into a new era of civil political dialogue.