Human Rights & National Security |
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People of diverse faith traditions, including evangelical Christians, mainline Protestants, Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Quakers, Unitarians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Baha'is, Sikhs, and Hindus, as well as representatives of over 300 religious organizations, are working together through the National Religious Campaign Against Torture to support human rights. Notwithstanding points of theological difference, these groups share a basic understanding and affirmation of the inherent dignity of each individual which includes:
- A conviction that all individuals are created in the image of God and therefore are endowed with a basic dignity;
- Some variant of what is commonly referred to as "The Golden Rule": That which you would not want done to yourself, do not do to another.
Each of these traditions also share ethical principles that people of faith are called to practice:
- People of faith are called to compassion - to not only care when people are degraded or hurt but to take action: to stand for, and with, those who are abused, oppressed, and among the most vulnerable.
- People of faith are called to pursue justice to assure that all people are treated fairly - as Martin Luther King once noted, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
- People of faith are called to be faithful - to be constant in their defense of each individual's dignity, humanity, and honor.
- People of faith are called to hospitality - to welcome those who are marginalized, ostracized, and perceived as Other.
- People of faith are called to make peace - to facilitate reconciliation and to create a culture of peace.
Religious institutions are called to embody these values and to engage in these tasks because of the authority they bring to issues of morality. Religious traditions emphasize ethical behavior as a demonstration of faith in action. They also provide leadership in secular society, playing an important role in influencing issues of morality at the national, state, and local levels. Furthermore, the infrastructure they provide supports the millions of people who covet justice and peace for all of God's creation.
Alexis de Tocqueville, the French historian, politicist, and observer of 19th century America, observed that "America is great because America is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." It is important for people of faith to impress upon Americans and our leaders in Washington that America's goodness, and hence its greatness, is seriously compromised by the practice of torture, or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatments of detainees.
