Torture is a Moral Issue

This is a Statement of Conscience Against Torture published by the United Church of Christ.

Subject: JPANet Action Alert: Oppose U.S.-Sponsored Torture

Endorse the Statement of Conscience Against Torture at www.UCCAgainstTorture
June is Anti-Torture month. The issue of torture has been much in the news lately including questions about whether the U.S. should engage in torture. For Christians who believe that all human beings are made in the image of God, torture is unambiguously wrong. It harms the tortured person and also the torturer. Moreover, intelligence experts question whether information derived through torture is useful, and these practices degrade the standing of the U.S. in the international community and weaken its moral authority.
The six conference ministers in the New England region of the UCC recently issued a pastoral letter calling for an end to U.S.-sponsored torture. The UCC’s General Minister and President, Rev. John Thomas has also called for an end to torture. They are urging everyone to endorse the Statement of Conscience Against Torture developed by the National Religious Coalition Against Torture.
Endorse the Statement of Conscience Against Torture at www.UCCAgainstTorture.org and encourage your church, association, or conference to also become a member of the campaign. At UccAgainstTorture.org, you can also download resources for education, worship, and action; read the pastoral letter from the New England Conference Ministers; and order a banner to hang on your church to proclaim your stance against torture.
The conference ministers in the New England region are: The Rev. Jim Antal, Massachusetts; The Rev. Charles Barnes, Rhode Island; The Rev. Carole Carlson, Vermont; The Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree, Connecticut; The Rev. David R. Gaewski, Maine; The Rev. Gary Schulte, New Hampshire.