June is Torture Awareness Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) has announced three emphases for “Torture Awareness Month,” which is June. NRCAT said it will lobby for a commission on inquiry, putting into law key provisions of the Executive Order banning torture, and expanding the national consensus that torture is always wrong.

NRCAT’s Torture Awareness Month webpage outlines activities congregations can do during June.

NRCAT believes these activities are particularly pertinent in light of the increased national visibility of U.S. torture practices as a result of the report of the International Committee of the Red Cross that documented torture and demanded that U.S. authorities investigate all allegations of ill-treatment and take steps to punish the perpetrators where appropriate, Justice Department memos that attempted to set a legal precedent for torture, and the Senate Armed Services Committee report. (Join the campaign to shine a light on torture. Go to www.umc-gbcs.org/UMsDoNotTorture)

The NRCAT offers Worship Resources to help highlight the issue of torture during a worship service. Resources were either developed by NRCAT or collected from other sources. They include a new interfaith prayer and sample sermons.

Study resources include NRCAT's new video "Ending U.S.-sponsored Torture Forever: A Study Resource for People of Faith" and discussion guide. You can view the trailer online. Community outreach entails promoting displays of banners and bumper stickers. NRCAT has new banners and bumper stickers for 2009 with the message "End Torture — Forever: Investigate. Legislate."

Activities should also include advocating for a Commission of Inquiry and legislation that will make permanent the elements of President Obama's executive order halting torture:

NRCAT plans to update the Torture Awareness Month page during coming weeks, providing more detailed information and resources. NRCAT urges to begin planning now by talking with congregational leaders about how your congregation will participate in this national initiative for education and action.

If you have any questions about these suggested activities or need more information about how your congregation can be engaged, contact John Humphries at jhumphries@nrcat.org.  

Visit the National Religious Campaign Against Torture’s website at Torture is a Moral Issue.

The Truth Will Set Us Free

Join the campaign to shine a light on torture. Go to www.umc-gbcs.org/UMsDoNotTorture