Love your enemies, civility advocates say

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 health care reform.

''Civility isn't ruling the day," said DeMoss, who represents leading evangelicals like evangelist Franklin Graham and Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson.

That's why, just before Inauguration Day, DeMoss joined forces with Democratic consultant Lanny Davis to launch The Civility Project, an online forum that aims to help 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 down the ranting and rhetoric.

''Many Christians like to call ourselves followers of Christ," said DeMoss, a Southern Baptist whose office is based 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 that dates back a decade.

DeMoss lists Forni's books as useful resources on the project's Web site.

Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, president of the New York-based National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, said faith leaders can use the wisdom of their particular traditions to nurture compassion and human dignity in the midst of the continuing debate.