Catholic activists protest torture practice

These same Catholic activists also protest Abortion. Wouldn't it be nice if NCR also covered that. Just a thought. Don't mean to disturb NCR's comfortable pew! But sometimes we need to witness our Catholic Faith. Even if it means stepping out of the favor of the mainstream news-mind you always remaining polite and tasteful! Christ is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The most sadly fascinating part of the torture story is the recent survey that finds that churchgoing people are those who most support torturing other people. Too weird.

You didn't mention that Obama says the legal department has to do it's job and that may mean some prosecutions even though he'd like to just move on. And he said this before the demonstration. He is working towards the closure. It's funny these people don't expect their church to change immediately but they expect our government to. Give the president a little time. He has a lot on his plate right now but is working towards what these people want. He's doing 100% better than Bush.

I think Guantaomo should be closed and detainees should be sent to the home towns of those who marched against torcher. OR, the objectors should ask for a gathering of the relatives of those lost in the twin towers so they can explain why we should not use whatever methods would give a chance of saving lives in future 9-11s. If Adolph Hitler could have been physically coerced into stating his plans for the Holocoast back in the mid thirties I wonder if it would have b een worth it to know what he planned to do?????

Annie O, I am a church going person. I do not support torture, war or abortion. No doubt the church going people who support torture voted for George W. Bush.

Steve

Thank you for those brave enough to do these demonstrations. Sad is what our Catholic bishops do not do! Like take a strong stand against war and other oppressive activities. Guess their too busy worrying about what some woman is up to or what Gay Man or Lesbian has a committed relationship!! SO PATHETIC.

Thank you again for carrying on the spirit of Jesus, our hero Peace maker.

We need to recognize the past is past and focus on the present and future as our President is doing! Unless you are blind and deaf you can readily identify enormous issues pressing upon our Nation and our Church for attention. To waste our resources, our attention, and our talent on re-hashing our past is a terrible shame. Let us work together to meet our current and future challenges from fair immigration to improved economy, better education, and more accessible health care.

Do you really believe that a country can be run on the same very admirable principles that govern a Catholic Worker House? By all reports it is often impossible even in a well-established Catholic Worker House!

I agree with crackedearthenvessel (above).It would be great of everything could be fixed immediately by just waving a magic wand. That just doesn't work in the real world. Let's continue to support president Obama as he faces all these myriad issues.

Personally I am proud to see Catholics protesting torture and inhumane treatment of others. Our Lord would not be scandalized by that. I am proud that they can demonstrate their views in a peaceful way without behaving inappropriately. Why would anyone take that personally? It is a testament to our great country that people can protest in front of the white house without being shot in the streets as so often happens in other countries. No matter what else, I take away from this that we live in the greatest democracy in the world, where people of faith can speak their minds and discuss their differences civilly without reprisals.

I'm sorry, I know it's chic and fashionable to oppose torture, and if we were indeed torturing people, I would be right there in agreement in condemning it. But, we are not torturing them. Granted, we are using techniques of interrogation that are not pleasant and that we would not use on criminal suspects in the US, but, as unpleasant as it is, this is not torture.

However, given the situation that we are faced with, as a nation, and as a people, I am not entirely sure I would condemn the use, even of torture. We are dealing with a foe dedicated to the desruction of everything we hold most dear: democracy, freedom, equal rights, religious freedom and tolerance. In other words, this foe is dedicated, day and night, to destroying our entire civilization.

In addition, this foe is not afraid to use innocent human beings as weapons, targets, and shields. This foe sends "suicide bombers" into crowded marketplaces, filled with innocent women and children; this foe blows up buses and takes schoolchildren hostage; this foe hijacks planes and flies them into civilian buildings in the hopes of killing tens of thousands of innocents.

This foe executes women for going to school and punishes rape victims, sometimes with death. This foe imprisons or executes individuals who seek to worship according to their own consciences. This foe kidnaps tourists and reporters and beheads them on live television.

Such an adversary understands little but strength. President Bush believed that such a foe could be reached by importing democracy. President Obama, like President Carter before him, believes that this foe can be reasoned with. History, however, has demonstrated time and again that this foe cannot be reasoned with or placated. This foe must be defeated and we must use the all the tools that we have at our disposal to defeat him. The alternative is too ghastly to consider.

The implications of such "enhanced interrogation" techniques are indeed serious and demand serious consideration. However, they also demand a balanced view. We must weigh in that balance our distaste for certain techniques and the excellent intelligence (intelligence that has prevented further attacks over the last several years); we must balance our concern for the enemies of this nation, and, indeed, Western Civilization itself, and our concern for the innocent lives that these enemies would happily destroy.

Christ, no doubt, would have some serious things to say about this. However, the best we can do is to try to interpret His teachings into our present time prudentially. This debate is far from over.

I am sure that some US Bishop(s) will have spoken out recently in condemnation of the torture techniques authorized and practised by the US government. Would it be posssible for NCR to publish those condemnations? The main line media in the US has not been giving the Catholic Church any coverage on this disturbing issue.

My heart goes out to all courageous Americans who stand up for justice especially those protesting the brutal and evil conditions at Gitmo.
I am praying for you.

Claude Espeut
Kingston, Jamaica

We all must condemn torture, and those who have perpetrated it must be held accountable in a court of law. What must not happen is a rush to judgement that will cause a less than credible case to be made against those ultimately accused. It takes time to build a case, and the more egregious the crime the longer it takes. We all must make sure that an investigation is in process; that progress is being made; that the ultimate person or persons will be held accountable. But this issue is so important to the soul of both the nation and the individuals that make up this nation that we must tread carefully and responsibly.