http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=21882Torture violates U.S. values, human dignity, statement U.S. bishops’ prez signed says
WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) – Torture contradicts U.S. values and violates the dignity of the human person, says a statement from a campaign interreligious leaders joined by the head of the U.S. bishops’ conference.
“Torture Is A Moral Issue” is the title of the 79-word National Religious Campaign Against Torture “statement of conscience” signed by Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) based here and more than 20 major U.S. Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu leaders. It has also been signed by more than 10,000 individuals, according to organizers.
“Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions hold dear. It degrades everyone involved – policy-makers, perpetrators and victims. It contradicts our nation's most cherished ideals. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.
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“Reaffirming the standards contained in Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions would reflect the conviction that our nation must treat its prisoners as we would expect our enemies to treat our own military personnel or citizens,” Bishop Wenski said
“Preserving the strong U.S. commitment to humane and ethical treatment of detainees would continue your efforts to restore the moral credibility of the United States at a crucial time.”