The Activities of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture on June 11 to urge President Obama to create a Commission of Inquiry

At noon on June 11, eight heads of faith groups and other religious institutions joined other prominent clergy in standing with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) at a public witness in front of the White House (in Lafayette Square), calling for a Commission of Inquiry on Torture. The religious leaders issued a strong plea to President Obama to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate U.S.-sponsored torture that occurred post-9/11.  Over 300 people of faith were in attendance.

The heads of faith groups and other religious organization speaking were:

• The Rev. Dr. John Thomas, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ
• Rabbi Steve Gutow, Executive Director 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, led a water blessing of the crowd to bless them in their efforts to end U.S.-sponsored torture forever.

Click here for photographs of the event

Click here for a video of the event.

Here are three op-eds presenting the case for a Commission of Inquiry:
•    An op-ed by Rev.Dr. John Thomas and Rev. Peg Chemberlin
•    An op by Rabbi Steve Gutow and Rev.Dr. Michael Kinnamon
•    An op-ed by Rev. Dan Bryant

Click here for press stories on the event.

Prior to the public witness, the senior religious leaders held a press conference at 11:00 AM at the National Press Club during which they discussed the letter to President Obama (signed by more than 50 prominent religious leaders) which they delivered to the White House that afternoon.  Click here for the statements of the eight senior religious leaders issued at the press conference on June 11.

Click here for a video of the press conference.
Click here for a recording of the press conference.

At 2 p.m., a delegation of 33 religious leaders met with senior administration officials in the White House. Click here for a list of the senior religious leaders who were invited to participate.

“This is an extremely important day for the religious community,” said Rev. Richard Killmer, executive director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture before the meeting.  “This diverse group of religious leaders from around the country has assembled in Washington to advocate for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate torture practices since 9/11. Only through an investigation of what happen can we be sure that torture will never happen again. As details about our nation’s involvement in torture continue to be made public, we believe the need for an independent, non-partisan commission to investigate all relevant fact is more important than ever.  We hope that President Obama will agree.”

At least eight staff from four different offices within the Administration, including the Office of the White House Counsel, the Office of public Engagement  and the Homeland Security Administration, met with the NRCAT delegation. 

After the meeting Rev. Killmer issued this statement: “We were pleased to have the opportunity today to meet with Obama administration officials to discuss our strong support for the establishment of an independent, non-partisan Commission of Inquiry to investigate the development and implementation of a program of torture by the United States in the years after 9/11.  Unfortunately, as is known publicly, President Obama does not currently support the establishment of an investigative Commission.  However, the officials with whom we met heard our concerns and welcomed our input.  This is not the end of this process; it is merely the beginning.  As events continue to unfold, we will advocate for a Commission of Inquiry that can uncover all of the facts.  We cannot simply bury our past, for as the Bible says, ‘the truth shall make us free.’”