Questions remain about the motives of Arizona shooter Jared Loughner, who allegedly killed six people Jan. 8 at a Democratic rally and wounded 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Some on the right point to Loughner’s reported familiarity with Karl Marx’s “Communist Manifesto” to show he’s a liberal.

Some on the left point to the shooter’s apparent embrace of conspiracy theories about a federal socialist takeover, in part through health care reform, to show influence of Republican thought, no matter how garbled by Loughner.

But even if Loughner had no political motive, the shooting has caused introspection among American politicians.

Have we gone too far in our rhetoric?

Politicians might learn something about rhetorical limits from two unlikely sources: Focus on the Family and the Catholic Church.

Over the past 18 months, Focus on the Family has been pretty careful in its language on controversial topics.Gone are the days when Focus, in the run-up to the 2008 national elections, for example, confidently portrayed a grotesque picture of America in 2012 if Barack Obama was elected president.

Last year, Focus took up the fight against abortion — but subtly, through its highly praised Super Bowl ad, sponsorship for free ultrasound testing, outreach to pregnant single moms and adoption-service programs.

Focus also emphasizes traditional marriage rather than leading with its belief that homosexuality is sinful and gay marriage unbiblical.

Focus spokesman Gary Schneeberger said the ministry’s leader, Jim Daly, places great emphasis on civil discourse.

“‘Civil’ does not mean going soft on our principles,” Schneeberger told me.

“But it does mean the condition of our heart, especially toward those who profoundly disagree with us, must be soft.

“People with different ideologies from ours are not the enemy,” he said.

The Rev. Bill Carmody is director of the Respect for Life Office in the Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs, and organizes anti-abortion rallies outside Planned Parenthood on Centennial Boulevard, where abortions are performed.

Like other Catholic priests organizing rallies, Carmody won’t allow fetus pictures, miniature black caskets and insults toward patients.

“We have to be nonviolent in our actions, our words, our deeds and our thoughts,” Carmody said. “We need to continue to speak the truth in love.”

Richard Cizik, president of the Tennessee-based New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good, said there is a movement among conservative Christians toward tolerance and civility.

“The trend is toward a softening,” Cizik said. “The hard line of the (Christian) political right is changing.”

Can politicians change, too?—For more of my interview with Focus’ Schneeberger, go to my blog, The Pulpit, at www.thepulpit.freedomblogging.com.

Cuisine in America is influenced by immigrants from around the world, but all tie into to the cooking styles and ingredients of Native American food, such as this Fry Bread with Seasonal Berries and Prickly Pear Syrup. Photo by MCCLATCHY