Tuesday, June 13th, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture will run an ad on the op-ed page of The New York Times, that will be "calling for the elimination of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment as part of U.S. policy". 27 Religious leaders, including Elie Wiesel and Nobel laureates President Jimmy Carter are included. Here is a list of those supporting this campaign;
Rev. William J. Byron, SJ
Research Professor, Loyola College in Maryland
President Jimmy Carter
Nobel laureate
Archbishop Demetrios
Primate, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar
General Secretary, National Council of Churches
Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein
Executive Vice President, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Dr. David P. Gushee
Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy, Union University in Tennessee
Rev. Ted Haggard
President, National Association of Evangelicals
Dr. Maher Hathout
Muslim Public Affairs Council
Dr. Stanley Hauerwas
Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics, Duke University
Dr. Roberta Hestenes
Minister-at-Large, World Vision
Dr. George Hunsinger
McCord Professor of Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary
Rev. Kermit D. Johnson
Chaplain (Major General), U.S. Army (ret.)
Rev. Joseph Lowery
Co-Founder, Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Frederica Mathewes-Green
Author and commentator
Theodore Cardinal McCarrick
Archbishop of Washington
Dr. Brian McLaren
Founder, Cedar Ridge Community Church, Spencerville, Maryland
Dr. Richard Mouw
President, Fuller Theological Seminary
Prof. Mary Ellen O'Connell
Robert and Marion Short Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame
Rabbi David Saperstein
Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Dr. Glen Stassen
Lewis B. Smedes Professor of Christian Ethics, Fuller Theological Seminary
Dr. Leonard Sweet
E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism, Drew University
Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed
National Director, Islamic Society of North America
Dr. Frank A. Thomas
Editor of The African-American Pulpit; Pastor, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, Memphis
Rev. Jim Wallis
Editor-in-Chief/Executive Director, Sojourners
Dr. Rick Warren
Founder and Pastor, Saddleback Church
Elie Wiesel
Nobel laureate
Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff
Noah Porter Professor of Philosophical Theology, Yale University
*Organizations listed for identification purposes only
The ad will say:
Torture Is a Moral Issue
Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone involved policy-makers, perpetrators and victims. It contradicts our nation's most cherished values. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.
Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed?
Let America abolish torture now without exceptions.
If you are involved in a church and think you could help in promoting awareness at your church, check out the NRCAT site for further info.
Join the over 5000 people
who have signed the statement
“Torture is a Moral Issue” So far, the complete list of endorsers.
In May, a month that is devoted to Mary, Pope Benedict XVI spoke to a crowd at the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love just outside Rome. He gave a recitation of the rosary and then spoke of the love God and of Mary as a sign of that love. Pope Benedict concluded by speaking of the power of love and the current imperative for choosing love over violence in dealing with our enemies “there is a need to convert to God, to God who is Love, so that the world may be freed from war and terrorism”.
ReplyDeleteAlso in May, I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Colin Powell speak. He was not most proud of his accomplishments in war, but of his accomplishments in bringing and maintaining peace. He spoke what he believes is the only way to end terrorism. It is, according to a 4-star general, through small acts of kindness that we will end the fear and the hate that feeds terrorism.
If the Pope and a 4-star general can both choose diplomacy over bombs and love over violence then why can't we?
In a letter to the Senate in support of the McCain-Warner Ammendment to the Defense Authorization Act Bishop John H. Ricard, speaking on behalf of the USCCB wrote "In a time of terrorism and great fear, out individual and collective obligation to respect basic human dignity and human rights, even of our worst enemies, gains added importance." At a time when the Pentagon is re-writing the Army field manual to remove language that relates to the Geneva Convention and prohibitions against the use of inhumane treatment of prisoners, and detainees at Guantanamo are committing suicide because they have lost all hope this statement is very poignant.
Please tell your legislators that your faith tells you that you must choose love because torture is a moral issue.
Well spoken and oh so true Kathy. So many politicians who 'court the faithful' in issues such as abortion or gay marriage are oh so still when it comes to moral issues that effect masses of peoples and individuals alike. It will influence history in the worst way.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and yes, do contact your legislators that torture is unacceptable. It'll be tough here seeing that I am in the middle of Texas where most politicians will be in the Bush side of things..
Ingrid