(Washington, DC - 1/4/99) On the eve of the Senate impeachment deliberations, national religious leaders will call on members of Congress to set aside the language of sound-bites and barbed quips for reasoned debate which elevates principle above partisanship. National religious leaders from Christianity, Islam and Judaism will discuss the destructive consequences of the mean-spirited rhetoric and incivility that dominates the public discourse.

Concerned by the inability of political leaders to resolve differences in a respectful manner, The Interfaith Alliance will announce a series of faith-based symposiums around the country designed to examine the importance of civility in our diverse nation. The Washington, D.C., forum will take place on Jan. 26, 1999. In faith communities around the country even the most contentious issues are debated in a respectful manner. Today, our national pluralism demands that elected leaders resist the politics of division for the common good.

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1999 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Washington, DC - National Press Club, Lisagor Room

WHO: National Religious Leaders including:
-- Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, executive director, The Interfaith
Alliance, and president of the Alliance of Baptists;
-- Rabbi David Saperstein, director and counsel, Religious Action
Center of Reform Judaism;
-- Dr. Azizah Al-Hibri, professor of law, T.C. Williams School of
Law at the University of Richmond; and
-- Others to be announced

The Interfaith Alliance (TIA) is a nonpartisan faith-based grassroots organization with over 80,000 members and over 100 local Alliances in 36 states. Founded in 1994, TIA is dedicated to promoting the constructive and healing role of religion in public life. Challenging those who manipulate religion to promote an exclusionary political agenda, TIA provides people of faith and goodwill an alternative to religious political extremists.