wfn.org | [ENS] Presiding Bishop thanks Senator John McCain in letter for

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Presiding Bishop thanks Senator John McCain in letter for senate action
regarding Guantanamo detainees

Griswold urges 'conferees' to preserve standards under veto threat

By John Johnson

ENS 101205-1

[Episcopal News Service] Responding to Senate action last week,
Presiding
Bishop Frank Griswold sent a letter to Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
thanking
him for offering and gaining passage of an amendment establishing
uniform
standards for the conduct of U.S. military personnel when interrogating
those held in U.S. custody, including detainees being held at Guantanamo
Naval Air Base in Cuba.  In a 90-9 vote on October 5, the Senate passed
his
amendment to the Senate's FY '06 Department of Defense Appropriations
bill.
Despite the strong Senate vote, the amendment faces opposition when it
is
considered in conference committee with the House and from the Bush
Administration, which is reported to be prepared to veto the bill if the
McCain amendment is included.

Speaking on the Senate floor last week in support of his amendment,
Senator
McCain said, "The intelligence we collect must be reliable and acquired
humanely, under clear standards understood by all our fighting men and
women.	To do differently would not only offend our values as Americans,
but
undermine our war effort because abuse of prisoners harms - not helps -
us
in the war on terror."

In his letter Bishop Griswold stated, "On behalf of the Episcopal
Church, I
want to express my appreciation to you and your colleagues in the Senate
who
supported your amendment to the FY '06 Department of Defense
Appropriations
bill establishing uniform standards for the conduct of U.S. military
personnel prohibiting 'cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of persons
under the custody or control of the United States Government.'

A similar letter will be sent to House and Senate members who will form
the
"Conference Committee" to work out differences in the separately-passed
defense appropriations bills.  They are expected to convene next week
when
members of Congress return from their Columbus Day recess.  That letter
will
urge them to preserve intact the language of the McCain amendment and
note
that it is consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which the U.S.
is a
signatory, and the Convention Against Torture.

The following is the letter to Senator McCain from Presiding Bishop
Frank
Griswold:

October 11, 2005

The Honorable John McCain
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator McCain:

Episcopalians, along with many in our nation, have expressed grave
concern
for the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. On
behalf of the Episcopal Church, I want to express my appreciation to you
and
your colleagues in the Senate who supported your amendment to the FY '06
Department of Defense Appropriations bill establishing uniform standards
for
the conduct of U.S. military personnel prohibiting "cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment of persons under the custody or control of the
United
States Government."  As the Conference between the House and Senate
moves
forward, I write to urge Conferees to preserve intact this important
language consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which the U.S.
is a
signatory, and the Convention Against Torture.

The Episcopal Church through the Executive Council, a governance body,
at
its June 2004 meeting established policy calling on the U.S. government
"conduct itself in all aspects of the [War on Terror] with the highest
standards of human rights and regard for due process, which are
cherished
values of our nation and when disregarded diminish credibility of the
U.S.
in the world.

Those responsible for the violence and terrorism in our world must be
found
and punished for their acts and disregard for human life.  Yet history,
both
past and present, have shown that torture is often counterproductive,
resulting not in information that would reduce violence but in a rage
and
desire for vengeance that only produces more.  Instead, we are obliged
to
treat others as we would want to be treated.  You spoke with painfully
gained personal wisdom when you said in support of your amendment:  "The
intelligence we collect must be reliable and acquired humanely, under
clear
standards understood by all our fighting men and women.  To do
differently
would not only offend our values as Americans, but undermine our war
effort
because abuse of prisoners harms - not helps - us in the war on terror."

The President and his Administration, the Congress and our military
forces
have our prayers as you seek ways to address the challenges facing our
troubled and fragile world.  Our nation has an opportunity to reflect
the
values and ideals that we espouse in our treatment of others.  I pray
that
compassion and reconciliation and healing may become the realities of
our
common life, thereby reflecting God's own passionate desire for the life
of
the world God sent his Son to save.

Again on behalf of the Episcopal Church, I appreciate your efforts to
preserve intact the Senate approved amendment to prohibit cruel and
inhumane
treatment of those held in the custody of the United States.

Sincerely,

The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate

-- John Johnson is a domestic policy analyst in the Episcopal Church's
Office of Government Relations in Washington, D.C.

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