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Action Alert: Torture is Never Permissible July 2nd, 2011
The National Religious Coalition Against Torture (NRCAT) of which Oblate JPIC is a member, is concerned about statements made in Congressional testimony by General David Petraeus regarding torture. On June 23, in a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on his nomination to be the Director of the CIA, General Petraeus suggested that the U.S. needed procedures for using “more than the normal [interrogation] techniques” during a ticking time bomb-like incident.
Yet, as NRCAT points out in an action alert, there are no situations — even a ticking time-bomb — in which torture is permissible, moral, or legal. General Petraeus has opened a door that he and President Obama need to close. Please write to President Obama and ask him to publicly reject General Petraeus’ June 23rd testimony on “more than normal” interrogation techniques.
People who support torture often refer to the hypothetical “ticking time bomb” to make their argument. Yet torture is always wrong and always illegal.
As people of faith, we know that, above all, our country must act morally. General Petraeus may have misstated his own position, but he and President Obama need to immediately reaffirm their unequivocal opposition to torture in all instances.
Take Action on Torture June 24th, 2011
June 26th is United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Several years ago, religious and human rights organizations in the United States declared the month of June to be Torture Awareness Month as a way to provide greater visibility to this issue and provide an opportunity for coordinated actions across the country.
Over the next few months, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is expected to finish a report on their investigation into past interrogation practices by the US military and US government agencies. Ask members of your faith community to join you in signing petitions or postcards, asking that this report be made public. See The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) for postcards which you can use.
NRCAT has also prepared Sample Sermons to be used during this period to help raise awareness about torture:
- Sample sermon based on Because It Is Wrong: Torture, Privacy, and Presidential Power in the Age of Terror
- “Islam Condemns Torture” a Khutba (Islamic sermon)
Prayers:
2009 State Department Human Rights Country Report on Sri Lanka Now Available March 12th, 2010
The 2009 US State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices were released on March 11, 2010.
For the report on Sri Lanka, please go to:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/sca/136093.htm
The Annual Human Rights reports are put out by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the US Department of State.
Clergy Resources for Advent on Torture November 10th, 2009
Torture is a Moral Issue…
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture has created excellent materials for clergy to use during Advent. Advent 2009: Resources for Christian Clergy provides commentary on the scriptures and sermon notes that help connect the scriptures with today’s national dialog on the use of torture.
Learn more and download the resource…
Oblates Join Religious Coalition Calling for Investigation by US DOJ into use of Torture June 10th, 2009
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate’s Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation office has joined the Torture Abolition Survivors Support Coalition and more than 180 other organizations in calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate and prosecute members of the Bush administration for violations of US and International law pertaining to torture.
Click here to read more »
