Your South Carolina Christian Action Council Board of Directors took a courageous stand on January 24, 2008 when it adoped a strongly worded resolution calling for the U.S. to Stop Using Torture.
(See the resolution at http://www.carolinapeace.org/content/view/1120/51/).
Working with your Council for at least a week, Michael Berg writes:
End Torture: Support Section 327
Americans of all faiths were horrified when they heard about the abuses at Abu Ghraib. Abu Ghraib, however, turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg. Not long after the Abu Ghraib story broke, we learned that our government has opened and operated secret prisons, has kidnapped and tortured detainees, and has turned detainees over to foreign governments that are known to use torture. Torture contradicts our most basic moral values. On January 24th the Board of Directors of South Carolina Christian Action Council passed a resolution to Stop U.S. Sponsored Torture.
Unfortunately, despite our moral outrage, our government has not yet reversed course on these issues.
A new dawn is coming, however, with the U.S. House of Representatives passage of the H.R. 2082, the Intelligence Authorization bill. Section 327 of this legislation contains an important anti-torture provision that would require all intelligence agencies to abide by the restrictions in the Army Field Manual while conducting interrogations. The Army Field Manual prohibits torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
H.R. 2082 passed by the House faces opposition in the U.S. Senate. Some Senators are attempting to remove Section 327 (the anti-torture section) from the bill. One of the most vocal opponents of the anti-torture provision is South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. A call to his Washington office today confirmed that Senator Jim DeMint is still undecided on this issue.
YOU can help end U.S.-sponsored torture. Call each of your Senators. Tell him that as a member of the South Carolina Christian community you oppose torture, and that you want him to support Section 327 of H.R. 2082. Remind the Senator of your faith commitment and your town or city. Don't delay, as the vote on the bill could happen as soon as next week. You call both Senators Graham and DeMint by calling the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
More contact information for the Senators follows:
Senator Jim DeMint
340 Russel Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Direct Phone (202) 224-6121
Emails can go through: http://demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Senator Lindsey Graham
290 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Direct Phone (202) 223-5972
Emails can go through: http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.EmailSenatorGraham
Thank you for speaking for your values on this vital issue.
From across my desk...
