John Carr, the former executive director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the United States Catholic Bishops’ Conference, was on NPR earlier this month.  Among the various interesting topics he discussed was his time at Harvard and his engagement with young, often secular people there.

One was a fellowship at Harvard at the Institute of Politics to talk about religion in politics with young people. I got mostly young people who are not actively religious themselves who wanted to talk about where morality comes from in political life. They had never met – many of them – a pro-lifer who really believed in pro-life who was a progressive. They said how can you believe that? And I told them I had just gotten a picture of my new granddaughter and I said, I’ve seen her face, I’ve seen her fingers, I’ve seen her toes. She has a name, she has a room. The only thing she doesn’t have is the right to be born. It was a sonogram. And they said, I never thought of it that way. I always think about in terms of the woman and her rights.

His approach sharply contrasts with the way far too many discuss morality and public affairs.  Instead of hyperbole and vitriol, Carr’s approach reflects his desire to actually convince those who do not already agree with the Church’s position and shows that civility can exist without sugarcoating one’s convictions.  He simply unfolds the transparent humanity of the child in the womb, making it harder for those listening to accept the stale sophistry of separating a child’s personhood from his or her humanity.  Those interested in changing public opinion on matters of human dignity and social justice should take notes.