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Seeking Common Ground,
Working for the Common Good

 

19 Pleasant Avenue, Portland, ME  04103            207-772-1918 

Maine Religious Campaign Against Torture
Please be advised that this video contains graphic and disturbing imagery.


MCC Joins State and National Religious Leaders in Denouncing New Details of Torture and Experimentation on Detainees

Maine Council of Churches and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture commend Physicians for Human Rights for their groundbreaking work uncovering and documenting evidence of the involvement of United States military and intelligence health professionals in performing experiments, without consent, on detainees in the custody of the U.S. following September 2001. In light of new information that continues to be disclosed about treatment of detainees, we renew our call for a full investigation by a nonpartisan Commission of Inquiry.

Read the full MCC and NRCAT statement

Read the full Physicians for Human Rights Report

Read the Bangor Daily News Coverage


If your congregation would like to engage further in this issue, by viewing  NRCAT's 20-minute video "Ending US-sponposred Torture Forever" or other activities, visit the NRCAT website for a full list on congregational resources.

Watch the trailer:

Trailer: Ending US-Sponsored Torture Forever from Steven D. Martin on Vimeo.

Please sign-up to tell us how you would like to work with us on this important issue:

Join the Maine Religious Campaign Against Torture


Faith Leaders Urge Obama to Close Guantanamo:

On November 12, 2009, Maine Council of Churches was one of 40 faith organizations to sign on to a letter to President Obama urging him to keep the promise to close the prison at Guantanamo.  

Read the Washington Post Guest Column on how much remains to be done on the anti-torture agenda, written by Rev. Rich Killmer, Executive Director of National Religious Campaign Against Torture. 

Throughout 2009 we learned more and more excruciating detail about programs of torture authorized by the highest levels of our government. Yet there is still no comprehensive investigation into how this was allowed to happen.

Almost as shocking as the abuse itself, is the poll by the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life that shows that people of faith in the US are more likely to believe that torture is sometimes justified than those not connected to a faith community.

You can help change this. Join us on our call for a Commission of Inquiry, and continue the conversation in your faith community.

Maine Council of Churches has copies available of Ending U.S.-Sponsored Torture Forever, a new video resource with discussion questions from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. This resource can be used as either a one or a two session 50 minute adult discussion/Bible study.

Please contact our office and we'll send a copy to your congregation or parish. 

Why is torture still an issue?

  • because President Obama's Executive Orders, though a large step in the right direction, could be undone at any time by his, or any future, administration.
  • because telling the truth about what happened is the first step toward ensuring that it never happens again. 
  • because the prophetic religious voice must be heard on behalf of the dignity of all human beings, saying "torture is a moral issue." 

What can you do?

  • Collect signatures in your faith community:
  • Participate in Torture Awareness, plan a worship service, Bible study, host a letter writing table or public event, display an anti-torture banner on your church building:
All available at the NRCAT Torture Awareness Month page.

 
 
© Maine Council of Churches