January 19, 2009

U.S. religious leaders urge Obama to end torture

BY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON — Religious leaders have renewed their efforts to press President-elect Barack Obama to sign an executive order banning torture soon after he takes office.

Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ committee on international justice and peace, joined nearly three dozen leaders as part of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture Jan. 9.

The leaders signed a letter urging the incoming president to make good on his oft-repeated campaign pledge to end the use of torture during the interrogation of prisoners.

“Both the Holy See and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have taken a strong position against the violation of fundamental human rights including torture and genocide,” Hubbard told Catholic News Service Jan. 13.

“We believe, under any circumstances, this is cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.”

In recent years the White House consistently has denied that President George W. Bush ever authorized the use of torture, but rather allowed the CIA to use other “coercive” interrogation techniques.

John Carr, an official with the U.S. bishops’ conference, said, “While there’s a debate about torture in the country, there’s not a debate about it in Catholic social teaching. The Church has been consistent and persistent in condemning torture.”

Other religious groups are seeking the closure of the U.S. military prison at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where suspected terrorists have been held for seven years.

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