Wisconsin Council of Churches : Torture Resources
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  Torture is a Moral Issue
 

With the advent of the “War on Terror,” the Wisconsin Council of Churches has joined the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (www.NRCAT.org) in advocating for the elimination of the use of torture by U.S. military forces and clandestine operatives.

Even though President Obama issued an executive order banning torture, congregations and other organizations must continue their anti-torture work in 2010. 

In order to end torture completely, investigation, legislation, and other actions are needed to follow up on the executive order.  And recent polls show that a majority of Americans do not believe that torture is always wrong. Learn more.

June is Torture Awareness Month

Ending Torture: Our Nation’s Unfinished Business

June 26th is United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. This June, the Wisconsin Council of Churches joins with NRCAT to encourage congregations and people of faith to support two primary actions to advance the cause of ending U.S.-Sponsored torture forever:

  • Passing federal legislation granting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to all detainees in U.S. custody.
  • Securing a comprehensive investigation, a Commission of Inquiry, into the use of torture by the United States since September 11, 2001. Learning from the past is the best way to build a torture-free future.

Activities for Congregations

Get more details and download resources.

Educate

  • Show the 20-minute "Ending U.S.-Sponsored Torture Forever" video and organize a one-hour discussion, using a guide with background text and sample questions.

  • Hold a 4-session small group class using the Way of Torture, Way of the Cross - study action resource.  This four session adult study will help congregants reflect biblically and theologically on the practice of torture and offers tools for civic engagement.

          Printed copies of the Leader's Guide are available for $5 from WCC, or you can
          download it for free. Click here (note: 2.5MB pdf file may take time to download).

          Download the Participants Resource.  Click here.

  • Invite participants to sign up for occasional emails to keep abreast of important public policy developments. Click here to download.

Advocate

Have a table at each worship service in June:

  • Ask people to complete postcards (or letters) calling for legislation that will assure International Committee of the Red Cross access to all U.S.-held detainees. The post cards can be taken to the local offices of Members of Congress on Monday, June 28, or mailed to their offices in Washington, DC. Download a sample letter (which can be abridged for postcards) here. 
  • Ask people to sign a petition asking for a Commission of Inquiry. Download the petition here.

Other Things You Can Do

Further Resources and Information

  Organizations 

 

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Advocacy Resources

Legislative Alert Center

Way of Torture, Way of the Cross Leader's Guide (pdf)