FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 10, 2017
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Faith Leaders Pray that President Trump will Robustly Defend the Dignity of all People

Washington, DC - In advance of confirmation hearings on executive branch nominations, national faith leaders sent a letter to President-elect Trump sharing their hopes and prayers that he would advance American values and defend all people from torture, genocide, and other assaults on human dignity.

The faith leaders, representing many different American faith traditions, wrote:

“We live in an era when fear and anger have eroded the common concern for human life and human dignity. Too often lines are drawn between people of different ethnicities, religions, and cultures, and some use those lines in an attempt to justify killing, torture, and other immoral acts of brutality.

While we represent a diversity of faith traditions, we stand together in a shared belief in the God-given dignity of each person and the conviction that America should reject the forces that divide people and should protect those who are at risk of torture, rape, genocide, and other violations of human dignity. Our faith traditions teach us that standing up for the vulnerable and those in need is at integral to the well-being of our shared community.”

The full text of the faith leader letter to President-elect Donald Trump can be found below:

January 10, 2017

President-elect Donald Trump
Trump Tower
735 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10022

cc: Members of the 115th Congress

Dear President-elect Trump,

As representatives of many different faith communities, we are writing to convey our hope and prayers that you will robustly defend the dignity of all people and strive to advance democracy, human rights, and rule of law both here at home and around the world.

We live in an era when fear and anger have eroded the common concern for human life and human dignity. Too often lines are drawn between people of different ethnicities, religions, and cultures, and some use those lines in an attempt to justify killing, torture, and other immoral acts of brutality.

While we represent a diversity of faith traditions, we stand together in a shared belief in the God-given dignity of each person and the conviction that America should reject the forces that divide people and should protect those who are at risk of torture, rape, genocide, and other violations of human dignity. Our faith traditions teach us that standing up for the vulnerable and those in need is at integral to the well-being of our shared community. We believe that our country should champion democracy and rule of law both here and abroad.

As you begin your presidency, we pray that you will stand to protect American values like democracy, freedom of religion, and rule of law, and that you will defend people from torture, genocide, and other assaults on human dignity.

Please know that our prayers are with you. As you shoulder the burdens of the presidency, you can always reach out to any of us for counsel and prayer.

Sincerely,

Bishop Bruce R. Ough
President, The Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church

Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner
Director
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church

Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed
National Director of Interfaith & Community Alliances
Islamic Society of North America

Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ

Dr. Susan E. Gillies
Interim General Secretary
American Baptist Churches USA

Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Jim Winkler
President and General Secretary
National Council of the Churches

Kavneet Singh
President
American Sikh Council (ASC)

Rev. David Steele
General Secretary
Church of the Brethren

Colin P. Watson, Sr.
Director of Ministries and Administration
Christian Reformed Church in North America

Rev. Peter Morales
President
Unitarian Universalist Association

Sr. Simone Campbell
Executive Director
NETWORK: A Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Rev. Ron Stief
Executive Director
National Religious Campaign Against Torture

Rev. Paula Clayton Dempsey
Director of Partnership Relations
Alliance of Baptists

Rabbi Jill Jacobs
Executive Director
T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Ervin R. Stutzman
Executive Director
Mennonite Church USA

Gerry Lee
Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concern

Patrick Carolan
Executive Director
Franciscan Action Network

Sr. Patricia J. Chappell
Executive Director
Pax Christi USA

Diane Randall
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation

Hon. Thomas H. Andrews
President & CEO
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

Download the full letter here.

 The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is a membership organization committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Since its formation in January 2006, more than 300 religious organizations have joined NRCAT, including representatives from the Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline Protestant, Unitarian Universalist, Quaker, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i, Buddhist, and Sikh communities. Members include national denominations and faith groups, regional organizations and local congregations.
NRCAT.org    @NRCATtweets   facebook.com/nrcat

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