By Brittani Hamm
Religion News Service
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Church’s social policy office is circulating a petition that tells President Bush, a fellow church member, that torture is immoral and ineffective.
The petition cites the Methodists’ Book of Discipline, which says, “The mistreatment or torture of persons by governments for any purpose violates Christian teaching and must be condemned and/or opposed by Christians and churches wherever and whenever it occurs.”
The Methodists’ General Board of Church and Society was one of 10 groups that sent a letter to Bush urging him to sign the Intelligence Authorization bill, which would effectively ban the CIA from using waterboarding or other interrogation techniques that many consider torture.
President Bush has threatened to veto the bill, but more than 1,600 signers of the petition are urging him to sign it. Bush has frequently butted heads with Methodist leaders, especially over their opposition to the war in Iraq.
Meanwhile, leaders of four other groups have asked to meet with Bush as he decides whether to veto the bill. A joint letter brought together the National Council of Churches, the Islamic Society of North America, the Union for Reform Judaism and the president of evangelical Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, Calif.
“Our Scriptures couldn’t be clearer in their condemnation of cruelty and abuse,” said the Rev. Michael Kinnamon, head of the NCC. “The letter we have sent sums it up very succinctly: Torture is an intrinsic evil.”
Copyright 2008 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted February 29, 2008 at 3:13 pm
AS THEY SHOULD! That is a no-brainer. As my former religious “home” I am proud that they are doing this.
posted February 29, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Yes, this is a case where religious groups can do good.
posted February 29, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I am hopeful, eternally hopeful.
But I also doubt he will take these folks any more seriously than he does any other moral voice. His moral compass is stuck on a magnet, so it never swerves or veers, but is never right either. I expect that “magnet” is Darth Cheney, whose lodestone heart is sure to keep Bush in its grip until Jan 09. Clearly he is the evil twin of the Tin Man, as Bush is the idiot twin of the Scarecrow. Powell was the Lion, but they threw him to the Flying Monkeys long ago.
posted March 1, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I ahte to add a negative comment, but it is about time!
There are many issues in our society and the world today that we as a Church are not looking at closely enough to realize and recognize how much they are against Christian Principals, and United Methodist Doctrine.