Torture is a Moral Issue

In living our lives of, “what’s for dinner?” , “who’s picking up the boys from practice?” and “it costs that much!?”, we let issues that we normally take a stand on, drift off our radar. Unfortunately some of these issues, and images, just will not go away.

Recently, a military manual detailing the day-to-day operations of the United States military’s Guantánamo Bay detention facility was leaked to the web. The manual provides an inside look into the facility where the U.S. has, we have, imprisoned hundreds of suspected terrorists since 2002.

The ghosts of Abu Ghraib rush back into my consciousness, along with the disappointment and anger. While the folks who know me might classify me as a “bleeding heart liberal”, I too experienced 9-11. I expect our government to respond and take measures to protect the American people. I respect the fact that our military and intelligence forces have worked hard to prevent further attacks. But in our efforts we cannot violate our own core values and morality. We, the U.S., have always been the leader in supporting human rights efforts, but our moral compass has been “out of calibration” since 9-11.

As a follower of the Prince of Peace and a U.S. citizen, I have to denounce and attempt to end U.S. sponsored torture. People of faith must make our voices heard and take action.

Visit these other sites for statements from faith perspectives, background information, congressional actions, and more.

Religious-based Organizations

• Conference of Major Superiors of Men – Resoultion Condemning Torture
• Council on American-Islamic Relations – Anti-Torture Campaign
• Evangelicals for Human Rights – Including “An Evangelical Declaration Against Torture: Protecting Human Rights in An Age of Terror” endorsed by the Board of the National Association of Evangelicals
• Fellowship of Reconciliation – Investigate Torture: Online Resources
• Friends Committee on National Legislation – Letters and Statements, Statements from Quaker meetings across the U.S., Background and other resources
• Human Rights First – End Torture Now Campaign and other resources
• Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns – Statements from Maryknoll missioners and links
• No2Torture – Educational DVDs, Study documents, No2Torture Yahoo Group, Prayers
• Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, Presbyterian Church (USA) – Statements, worship materials, and other materials and links
• Rabbis for Human Rights – Study documents
• Religion Action Center of Reform Judaism – Position of the Reform Jewish Movement, publications and press releases, and Jewish Values and Torture
• Unitarian Universalist Service Committee – STOP (Stop Torture Permanently) Campaign

Secular Organizations

• Amnesty International USA – Denounce Torture Initiative includes Action Guide, Teach-in Guide, and Blog
• Bill of Rights Defense Committee
• PeaceAction Montgomery
• Physicians for Human Rights – includes a video

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