Council and Church World Service support Senate bill, term opposition 'abhorrent'
[11-22-05]

by Leslie Tune and Philip Jenks
NCC News and Information

[This report is being posted a bit tardily, because it came after I had left for Sri Lanka, where internet connections were pretty iffy. And costly. I’ll try to catch up on a few important items like this, though, over the next few days. Doug King]

HUNT VALLEY, MD - Nov. 10, 2005 – The General Assembly of the National Council of Churches USA (NCC) and Church World Service commended the U.S. Senate for "anti-torture provisions" in the 2006 Defense Appropriations bill.

But as the House of Representatives begins debate on the bill, some high-ranking U.S. government officials have declined to support the provisions.

"As delegates to the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches USA and Church World Service, we find any and all use of torture unacceptable and contrary to U.S. and international legal norms," the delegates said.

The NCC Assembly is meeting here this week.

"We find it particularly abhorrent that our nation's lawmakers would fail to approve the pending legislation disavowing the use of torture by any entity on behalf of the United States government," the statement said.

"Torture, regardless of circumstance, humiliates and debases torturer and tortured alike," the General Assembly declared by unanimous vote. "Torture turns its face against the Biblical truth that all humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). It denies the preciousness of human life and the dignity of every human being by reducing its victims to the status of despised objects, no matter how noble the cause for which it is employed."

The text of the statement:

Based upon our longstanding policies defending human rights and our affirmation of human dignity as revealed in scripture, the General Assembly of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and Church World Service meeting in Baltimore, MD, November 8-11, 2005, commends the United States Senate for its recent passage of the "Anti-Torture Provisions" which came as amendments to the Defense Appropriations Act of 2006. As that bill now comes before the House of Representatives for action (H. R. 2863), we are deeply disturbed that leaders within our nation's government oppose legislation which publicly disavows our nation's use of torture anytime, anywhere, under any circumstances.

Within the core of our religious tradition are Jesus' call to love our enemies, his blessing of those who work for peace, and his instruction that we are to do unto others as we would have them do unto us (Mt. 7:12)- a teaching found in other faith traditions as well. Both United States and international law reflect this biblical mandate, a social ethic commonly known as the Golden Rule, by upholding as core principles the right of due process and the humane treatment of all prisoners, even in times of war. As delegates to the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches USA and Church World Service, we find any and all use of torture unacceptable and contrary to U.S. and international legal norms. We find it particularly abhorrent that our nation's lawmakers would fail to approve the pending legislation disavowing the use of torture by any entity on behalf of the United States government.

Torture, regardless of circumstance, humiliates and debases torturer and tortured alike. Torture turns its face against the Biblical truth that all humans are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26, 27). It denies the preciousness of human life and the dignity of every human being by reducing its victims to the status of despised objects, no matter how noble the cause for which it is employed.

We believe that any reluctance of this nation to publicly disavow torture under any circumstance not only erodes the peace of the world but even the possibility of peace, since it destroys the trust required for diplomacy and other non-violent means to seek peace. Thus, we call upon members of the U. S. House of Representatives to follow the lead of the Senate by approving the legislation before it banning the use of torture by any entity of our government. Furthermore, we urge the President of the U. S. and all members of his administration to support this legislation by affirming America's long-standing commitment to refrain from the use of torture.