"We are in times of strident political protest that includes a lot of harsh language, personal attacks, name calling, and even debased and profane terms. There are tweets, and angry monologues, harsh commentary on news networks, and interruptive press conferences and news interviews that sound more like a brawl than a debate. To put it all more pleasantly, these are times of 'colorful' discourse.
"What is the overall teaching of Scripture when it comes to this sort of colorful language? Are there some limits and ground rules? Let's take a look.
"The word 'civility' dates back to the mid-16th century and has an older meaning that referred to one who possessed the quality of having been schooled in the humanities. In academic settings, debate (at least historically) was governed by a tendency to be nuanced, careful, cautious, formal, and trained in rhetoric. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish,
Washington, DC) reflected on the balanced reminders in Scripture to speak clearly, but with charity..
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: In Times of Harsh Political Discourse, What Do the Scriptures Say? (16 AUG 20)
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