|
 From across my desk...
Your
South Carolina Christian Action Council Board of Directors took a
courageous stand on January 24, 2008 when it adoped a strongly worded
resolution calling for the U.S. to Stop Using Torture.
(See
the resolution at http://www.carolinapeace.org/content/view/1120/51/).
Working
with your Council for at least a week, Michael Berg writes:
End Torture: Support Section 327
Americans
of all faiths were horrified when they heard about the abuses at Abu
Ghraib. Abu Ghraib, however,
turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg. Not long after the Abu Ghraib story broke, we learned
that our government has opened and operated secret prisons, has
kidnapped and tortured detainees, and has turned detainees over to
foreign governments that are known to use torture. Torture contradicts our most basic
moral values. On January 24th the Board of Directors of South Carolina
Christian Action Council passed a resolution to Stop U.S. Sponsored
Torture.
Unfortunately,
despite our moral outrage, our government has not yet reversed course
on these issues.
A
new dawn is coming, however, with the U.S. House of Representatives
passage of H.R. 2082, the
Intelligence Authorization bill.
Section 327 of this legislation contains an important
anti-torture provision that would require all intelligence agencies to
abide by the restrictions in the Army Field Manual while conducting
interrogations. The Army Field
Manual prohibits torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and
degrading treatment.
H.R.
2082 passed by the House faces opposition in the U.S. Senate. Some Senators are attempting to
remove Section 327 (the anti-torture section) from the bill. One of the
most vocal opponents of the anti-torture provision is South Carolina
Senator Lindsey Graham. A call to his Washington office today confirmed
that Senator Jim DeMint is still undecided on this issue.
YOU
can help end U.S.-sponsored torture. Call each of your Senators. Tell
him that as a member of the South Carolina Christian community you
oppose torture, and that you want him to support Section 327 of H.R.
2082. Remind the Senator of your faith commitment and your town or
city. Don't delay, as the vote on the bill could happen as soon as next
week. You call both Senators Graham and DeMint by calling the Senate
switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
More
contact information for the Senators follows:
Senator
Jim DeMint
340
Russel Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Direct
Phone (202) 224-6121
Emails
can go through: http://demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Senator
Lindsey Graham
290
Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Direct
Phone (202) 223-5972
Emails
can go through: http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.EmailSenatorGraham
Thank
you for speaking for your values on this vital issue.
...that's
the view today.
The Reverend Brenda
Kneece,
Executive Minister |
