WASHINGTON — As Democratic
lawmakers reel from violent attacks and threats, religious leaders have issued
a “covenant for civility” pledging that they will pray for politicians and
model respectful behavior.
“The church in the United
States can offer a message of hope and reconciliation to a nation that is
deeply divided by political and cultural differences,” reads the statement,
signed by more than 100 Christian
leaders.
The covenant was released
March 25 by the anti-poverty group Sojourners, as members of Congress who voted
in favor of health care reform have faced attacks. A brick was thrown through
Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter’s window in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and a gas
line was cut at the home of the brother of Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Va.
Quoting the Bible, the faith
leaders said political debaters should be “quick to listen, slow to speak and
slow to become angry.”
In addition to the covenant,
several religious groups are condemning the threats against members of
Congress.
“These actions may have been
tolerated in the Wild West, but have no place in the United States today,” said
Rabbi Steve Gutow, president of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, in a
separate statement.
George Cummings, co-chair of
PICO National Network Steering Committee, called the violent threats and
actions “deplorable and unacceptable.” Faithful America, an online community
sponsored by Faith in Public Life, circulated a petition calling for members of
Congress “who stood with the Tea Partiers to stand up to their threats and
violence before someone gets hurt.”
Mat Staver of the
conservative law firm Liberty Counsel noted that President Obama signed the
reform bill 235 years to the date when orator Patrick Henry called for fighting
abuses of power by the British: “Two centuries ago the people took up arms.
Today the people must channel their anger through nonviolent means to change
the leadership and the direction of America.”
Signatories on the civility
covenant included: Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of
Evangelicals; Geoffrey A. Black, general minister and president of the United
Church of Christ; Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson; Samuel Rodriguez,
president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; Jim Wallis,
president and CEO of Sojourners; and George O. Wood, general superintendent of
the Assemblies of God.