For Immediate Release:
December 17, 2010
Contacts:
Rev. Richard Killmer, NRCAT, (202) 547-1920,
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Alanna Sobel, NRCAT, (202) 265-3000,
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National Religious Leaders Strongly Support Independent Torture Investigation
WASHINGTON—Religious leaders from across the country today joined the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) in applauding the formation of an independent nonpartisan task force to investigate our nation’s use of torture.
The independent investigation will be carried out by the Task Force on Detainee Treatment administered by The Constitution Project (TCP).
“The task force provides a path to understanding how our nation came to engage in torture and can help restore our nation’s moral stature in the global community,” said Rev. Richard L. Killmer, executive director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. “As people of faith we say, ‘Amen!’ because we know that the truth can set us free and can heal the brokenness caused by our nation’s use of torture.”
NRCAT has been a leader in calling on Congress and the President to establish an official Commission of Inquiry, which would have subpoena power, to fully investigate U.S. torture and to make recommendations for permanently ending it.
“Though today’s announcement is a huge step, the Task Force cannot alone move us past this dark chapter in our nation’s history,” said Killmer. “While we urge the Obama Administration to cooperate fully with this new Task Force on Detainee Treatment and to consider its recommendations, we also continue to call upon the President to create an official Commission of Inquiry that will lead to safeguards ensuring that U.S.-sponsored torture never happens again.”
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is a growing membership organization committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Since its formation in January 2006, 300 religious groups 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.
