We need to recapture the sacredness of language. It is through words that we express life, that we express all that we love. "The starting principle is that every human being has God-given dignity and is worthy of respect," writes Bishop David A. Zubik in America Magazine. Noting that the lack of civility is currently pervasive, he calls civility a virtue which must be worked at each day. He says, "Civility assumes that the ties that bind us are far more important than the differences we have on important social and political issues."

The tower of Babel in Genesis, shows how "Humanity’s hubris…shattered humanity’s unity" making language "a source of conflict, war and hatred." The paradigm of Pentecost, can help us, since, "language was redeemed at Pentecost" when the Apostles spoke in tongues and were understood by all: "This is how we must use language: to bring about understanding and to speak of faith, hope and love." Let's shorten a list of his suggested "Nine Rules for Civility and Integrity for Faith Communities and Everyone Else.”

1-. In a healthy, civil dialogue, we listen to one another. Listening is more than hearing. It requires time and energy to appreciate where a person or group comes from, what they believe and why they believe it.

2-. Civil conversation presumes that we are each working for the common good. We nearly always have areas of agreement and disagreement. Instead of zeroing in on points of divergence, we should first acknowledge where we can stand together.

3-. Any civil public discussion recognizes the validity of contending groups in society. Not every cause is worthy to be promoted such are, for example, white supremacism, Nazism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. We have recently seen the importance of naming them. Allowing the expression of these hateful ideas, does not prevent to condemn them. Nevertheless, while denouncing the evil in them, we should not diminishing the person.

4-. Civility shows respect for the persons with whom we differ and affirm them for the ways they are trying to build a better society.

5-. Civility works for the inclusion of all members of society and is especially sensitive to minorities and marginalized persons.

6-. Civility distinguishes between facts and opinions, it let facts speak for themselves where possible and does not try to twist or bias them in order to strengthen its own opinions.

7-. Disagreements about values are difficult, and we cannot and should not avoid passionate discussion. Civility, however, knows how criticize an idea without lambasting a person, how to contest the values even of the majority, always respecting the results of democratic votes.

8-. We should not assume or impugn motives. We never know the full story. So why should we judge? Civility brings about the values worth to be lived, never the motives someone lives them.

9-. Civility is willing to be self-critical and to see the weakness and limitation of its posture.  

Civility is a virtue, a habit of choices and conscience, which shapes the way we encounter others. Like any virtue, we have to work at it day after day, if we want to support and sustain human dignity, human rights, human life. Of course, rules such as these, religious values and moral principles will not, by themselves, solve complex public problems. But they are part of the solution. Faith-inspired principles, when expressed with civility and conviction, are more important than ever. Issues like the economy, foreign policy, bioethics, climate change, health care and warfare require calm, thoughtful and empathic religious voices.