18th May, 2016
The steering committee of the US church-born initiative, Say Something Nice Sunday, are calling on would-be US presidential candidates to take a "pledge of civility" to mark the day in June.
The committee has written a letter to each of the would-be candidates asking them to take the pledge to "say something nice" on either 1st June or Sunday, 5th June. Under the pledge’s clauses, those who take it agree to refrain from "saying anything ugly, demeaning or derogatory" to or about anyone, especially other candidates running for the presidency, and to say something "nice, uplifting or encouraging" to or about at least one of the candidates.
The day, now in its 10th year, was inspired by the book Say Something Nice; Be A Lifter, and was first adopted by the First Baptist Church in Charleston in the US. It has since been taken up by churches across the city as well as elsewhere in the US and the UK.
Catholic Bishop Robert E Guglielmone, of the Diocese of Charleston, had endorsed the day, saying that the "decline of civility is at an epidemic level in our society and unfortunately has invaded our religious life". "The disrespect shown by Christians to other Christians is far from what Jesus wants for His people."
The candidates were asked to respond by 20th May.
– DAVID ADAMS
