Our faith traditions have a lot to say when it comes to solitary confinement, the criminal legal system in the U.S., racial justice, and the moral imperative to end torture without exception.
While not exhaustive, we offer below a sampling of the positions of the organizational religious members of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. We encourage you to share these resources with members of your faith community as a call to action to join the movement to end solitary. Have one to add to the list? This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Perspectives: Jewish * Muslim * Buddhist * Unitarian Universalist * Christian - Protestant * Christian - Catholic * Additional
Union for Reform Judaism and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
- "A Jewish Call to Action: Ending Mass Incarceration and Criminalization" by The National Jewish Network on Criminal Justice Reform (pdf)
- Criminal Justice Reform section of the JCPA website
T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights (formerly Rabbis for Human Rights - North America)
- Ending Solitary Confinement - Background and Current Campaigns by T'ruah
- “Testimony Submitted by T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Before the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights Hearing on Reassessing Solitary Confinement II: The Human Rights, Fiscal and Public Safety Consequences,” February 25, 2014.
- Criminal Justice section of the Uri L'Tzedek website
Islamic Circle of North America
- ICNA's Council for Social Justice collaborates with NRCAT to host replica cell at the ICNA convention in 2015
Islamic Society of North America
- Torture and Indefinite Detention
- ISNA Representative Joins Faith Leaders to Discuss Opposition to Prolonged Solitary Confinement - Statement made at 2012 briefing ending a 23-hour nationwide fast prior to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights’ hearing on solitary confinement
Muslims for Progressive Values
Unitarian Universalist perspectives
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
- Amen to Uprising: A Commitment and Call to Action (2020)
- Criminal Justice and Prison Reform: 2005 Statement of Conscience
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
- MLK’s Legacy Calls Us into Radical Action for Justice: https://www.uusc.org/mlks-legacy-calls-us-into-radical-action-for-justice/
Christian - Protestant perspectives
African Methodist Episcopal Church, Social Action Commission
American Baptist Churches, USA
- “Restorative Justice” outlines the American Baptist Churches’ holistic approach to justice
American Friends Service Committee
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- “A Call to End Solitary Confinement" - Resolution regarding solitary confinement accepted by the 2015 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- Resolution of the Episcopal Church 2018-D029 Title: “Condemn Prolonged Solitary Confinement as a Form of Torture"
- See what the Office of Government Relations for the Episcopal Church has to say in their 2020 criminal justice series
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- The ECLA gives a “call for dramatic reforms in policies and practices in the criminal justice system” - read the statement
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
National Association of Evangelicals
- “NAE Government Relations Statement Submitted to the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights Hearing on Reassessing Solitary Confinement II: The Human Rights, Fiscal and Public Safety Consequences,” February 25, 2014.
- “National Council of Churches Written Testimony Submitted to the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights Hearing on Reassessing Solitary Confinement II: The Human Rights, Fiscal and Public Safety Consequences,” February 25, 2014
- Thinking Theologically About Mass Incarceration
New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good
- Resolution On Prolonged Solitary Confinement in U.S. Prisons - Approved by the 220th General Assembly (2012) - (See Page 1122 of the minutes of the General Assembly)
- Resolution Calling for the Abolition of For-Profit Prisons - Approved by the 215th General Assembly (2003)
Quaker Initiative to End Torture (QUIT)
- Sojo’s Commitment to Racial Justice
The United Methodist Church
- Resolution by the 2016 General Conference of The United Methodist Church - "The Abolition of Torture" - 2016 Book of Resolutions, #6147
- From the The United Methodist General Board of Church and Society - “Statement of the General Board of Church & Society Before the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights Hearing on Reassessing Solitary Confinement II: The Human Rights, Fiscal and Public Safety Consequences,” February 25, 2014.
- The UMC Commitment to Criminal Justice Reform, by the UMC General Board of Church and Society
- From the General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church - Crisis in U.S. prisons reveal an unjust prison system and systemic racial inequities
Christian - Catholic perspectives
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
- Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice: A Statement of the Catholic Bishops of the United States, Issued by USCCB, November 15, 2000.
- “Taking Action to Achieve Change: An Interview with Sr. Marion Defeis,” on her work to end solitary confinement after working 23 years as a chaplain at Rikers Island Jail Complex.
Clerics of St. Viator (Viatorians)
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Justice, Peace/Integrity of Creation Office
US Catholic Mission Association
