Palmer urges U.S. candidates to stop the rhetoric
Oct. 14, 2008 | SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (UMNS)
Bishop Gregory V. Palmer
|
The president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops has called for
an end to "divisive and demeaning rhetoric" in the U.S. presidential
race and urged the candidates instead to "honor the principles of
fairness and accuracy" in their debates, advertisements and speeches.
"Public discourse, especially in this season of
presidential elections, has often deteriorated into acrimonious,
disrespectful and divisive rhetoric," Bishop Gregory V. Palmer wrote in
an Oct. 14 pastoral letter to the candidates and the church.
"Such speech, in the interest of short-term political gain, will make
it more difficult for the nation to unite to work together on the great
challenges that face the United States and the world today."
Palmer urged the candidates and campaigns "to focus on the critical
challenges that threaten the future of our nation and the world:
poverty, war, racism, inequality of opportunity, the current financial
crises, and terrorism in all its forms."
The letter
was sent one day before Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack
Obama were scheduled to hold their third and final debate of the
campaign on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. The
letter also was being e-mailed to the two U.S. senators' presidential
campaigns, according to a spokeswoman for the Council of Bishops.
"It is my fervent prayer that whoever is
elected … will, through positive words and deeds that transcend party
and perspective, help lead our nation and world into a more hopeful
future."
–Bishop Gregory V. Palmer "I believe
that people of faith are called to speak out on these vital issues and
to make sure that campaigns focus on what is vitally important to the
American people and the world," Palmer said in an accompanying news
release. "The people need to challenge the candidates to stop the
insults. They don’t improve our electoral process."
Palmer urged United Methodists and people of all faiths to pray
daily for all candidates, voters and U.S. leaders and to urge local
religious leaders and groups to circulate similar calls in their
communities.
"It is my fervent prayer that whoever is elected the next President
of the United States will receive respect and loyalty from all and will,
through positive words and deeds that transcend party and perspective,
help lead our nation and world into a more hopeful future," Palmer wrote
in his letter.
The Council of Bishops is the top clergy body in the The United
Methodist Church, which has more than 7.9 million members in the United
States. Palmer, who oversees the church's Illinois Great Rivers Annual
(regional) Conference, began his one-year term as president in May.
*This story was based on a news release from the Council of Bishops.
News media contact: Marta Aldrich, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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