Torture Is A Moral Issue
A Statement of Conscience of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture
Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone involved -- policy-makers, perpetrators and victims. It contradicts our nation's most cherished ideals. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.

Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed? Let America abolish torture now -- without exceptions.

More than 15,000 people have already endorsed this statement. The list of endorsers list includes the following religious leaders, several of them familiar to us as Presbyterians and/or as Princetonians*:

Rev. Mark S. Hanson Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Bishop Janice Riggle Huie President, Council of Bishops, United Methodist Church
*Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, PC (USA)
Dr. Ingrid Mattson President, Islamic Society of North America
Rev. A. Roy Medley General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA
*Rev. Robert Moore, Exec. Director, Coalition for Peace Action, Princeton, NJ
Most Rev. Katharine Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church
Dr. Willliam Shaw President, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
Rev. William Sinkford President, Unitarian Universalist Assoc. of Congregations
Most Rev. William Skylstad Pres., United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Rev. John H. Thomas President, United Church of Christ
*Rick Ufford-Chase, Past Moderator, PC(USA)