wfn.org | Advisory: Leaders ask Obama for inquiry on torture

["Philip Jenks" <pjenks@ncccusa.org>]

>NATIONAL RELIGIOUS CAMPAIGN AGAINST TORTURE

>Advisory for events on June 11, 2009

Prominent Religious Leaders to Urge President Obama to Create a
"Commission of Inquiry" on Torture at Major Event in Front of the White
House on June 11

Declaring "only the truth can set us free," religious leaders to convey the moral necessity of a Commission

Contact:  Rev. Richard Killmer, NRCAT, 202-547-1920 or
rkillmer@nrcat.org

Steve Fox, Fenton Communications, 202-822-5200 or
sfox@fenton.com

WASHINGTON, DC - At noon on June 11, eight heads of faith groups and
other religious institutions will join other prominent clergy in
standing with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) at
a public witness in front of the White House, calling for a Commission
of Inquiry on Torture. The religious leaders will issue a strong plea to
President Obama to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate
U.S.-sponsored torture that occurred post-9/11.  The public witness will
include public statements from the leaders, as well as religious music
and ritual.  Hundreds of individuals of faith are expected to be in
attendance.

Prior to the public witness, the senior religious leaders will hold a
press conference at 11:00 AM at the National Press Club at which they
will discuss the letter to President Obama they have signed and which
they will deliver to the White House following the public witness.  (A
delegation of religious leaders has been invited to meet with senior
administration officials.) In this letter, the text of which is included
at the bottom of this release, the religious leaders express their
support for a Commission of Inquiry as the most effective means of
helping the nation move beyond this chapter in its history - and to
ensure that such acts of torture never happen again.  The letter, after
noting President Obama's stated desire to look forward, not backward,
provides in part:

"We agree we must look forward -- forward to a future where torture will
never happen again.  But we believe that the only avenue to, and
guarantee of, such a future is a Commission of Inquiry.  An
investigation of U.S.-sponsored torture will only be credible and
thorough if conducted by a Commission comprised of citizens who are
well-respected, non-partisan, and independent-minded."

"The reality is that our nation is now shackled to a shameful history of
torture," the letter continues.  "As people of faith we know that only
the truth can set us free.  We must therefore, as a nation, be mature
and honest enough to examine fully and disclose completely the
wrongdoing that has been committed."

The following religious leaders, among others, will participate in the
events in Washington:

The Rev. Dr. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President of the
United Church of Christ

Rabbi Steve Gutow, President of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs

The Rev. William Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist
Association of Congregations

Marie Dennis, Co-President, Pax Christi International (the Catholic
Peace Movement)

Dr. Ingrid Mattson, President of the Islamic Society of North America

Archbishop Michael Seneco, Presiding Bishop of the North American Old
Catholic Church

The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary of the National Council
of Churches

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Armenian Church in America

># # #

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is a growing
membership organization committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture, and
cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Since its formation in January
2006, more than 250 religious groups have joined NRCAT, including
representatives from the Roman Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline
Protestant, Unitarian, Quaker, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim,
Baha'i, Buddhist, and Sikh communities. Members include national
denominations and faith groups, regional organizations and local
congregations.

># # #

The following is the text of the letter referenced above and directed to
President Obama, calling for the establishment of a Commission of
Inquiry to investigate U.S.-sponsored torture:

>Dear Mr. President:

As senior religious leaders in the United States, we write to give voice
to the compelling need for a comprehensive investigation into
U.S.-sponsored torture since 9/11.  We believe the most credible way to
conduct such an investigation is by establishing an independent,
non-partisan Commission of Inquiry.  Such a Commission is necessary to:
(1) uncover the whole truth about U.S. torture policies and practices;
(2) mobilize a national consensus, and (3) build support for the
requisite safeguards to ensure that U.S.-sponsored torture never happens
again.

We know that you share with us the understanding that torture is wrong -
without exception, that it is illegal and immoral.  You have stated this
unequivocally.  You matched your words with action on the second full
day of your Administration when you signed the executive order banning
torture.  With that order, you signaled to our nation, as well as to the
world, your determination to return the United States to the rule of law
and to begin the process of restoring our nation's moral stature in the
global community.  We are profoundly grateful for your swift and
decisive action in signing this executive order.

But an executive order is not enough.  It can be superseded by laws,
and, as we've seen, even laws are in jeopardy of being superseded by
national emergencies.  Our nation can guarantee the abolition of torture
only if and when we put in place safeguards to prevent once and for all
the future twisting and abrogation of the existing laws that prohibit
torture.

You have publicly announced your opposition to a Commission of Inquiry,
stating that our existing institutions are adequate for investigating
what went wrong.  You have expressed your desire to look forward, not
backward.  We agree we must look forward -- forward to a future where
torture will never happen again.  But we believe that the only avenue
to, and guarantee of, such a future is a Commission of Inquiry.  An
investigation of U.S.-sponsored torture will only be credible and
thorough if conducted by a Commission comprised of citizens who are
well-respected, non-partisan, and independent-minded.

The reality is that our nation is now shackled to a shameful history of
torture.  As people of faith we know that only the truth can set us
free.  We must therefore, as a nation, be mature and honest enough to
examine fully and disclose completely the wrongdoing that has been
committed.  The transparency and openness of a Commission of Inquiry
will help to hold us all accountable for the policies and acts of
torture carried out in our name.  Accountability is essential in a
nation of laws.

Recent polls show that many people of faith have been persuaded that the
use of torture can be justified in some situations.  These findings
weigh heavily on us, as religious leaders.  We have more work to do to
educate our people.  We accept our responsibility to bear bold and
compelling witness to the sanctity of the divine image in all people and
to the fact that torture in every instance defiles and desecrates this
divine image.  We commit ourselves anew to greater faithfulness in
preaching to and teaching our members.

We beseech you, in furtherance of your responsibility to restore,
protect, and preserve the sanctity and rule of law in this nation, to
commit yourself to the creation of a Commission of Inquiry that will
uncover the truth, identify and establish legal safeguards, and
guarantee for our children and grand-children a future in this country
free of torture, without exceptions.

We pray for you "the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of
counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of God" (Isaiah
11:2).  And we look to you to lead our nation back to the path of truth
and justice.