Religious leaders to lobby Obama for torture inquiry

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story

Religious leaders to lobby Obama for torture inquiry

By Stephen C. Webster

Published: June 8, 2009

Eight spiritual leaders from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, representing some 250 member organizations from around the United States, will demonstrate in front of the White House on Thursday, giving “public witness” to their support of an inquiry on torture.

President Barack Obama has said repeatedly he would like to “look forward,” sidestepping calls from many in his own party to investigate torture of terror war prisoners authorized by the Bush administration.

Prior to their demonstration, the group will discuss their letter to the president at the National Press Club, beginning at 11 a.m., according to a media advisory. While the NRCAT delegates will not have an audience with the president, senior White House officials have agreed to meet with them, the group said.

“We agree we must look forward — forward to a future where torture will never happen again,” the group’s letter submits. “But we believe that the only avenue to, and guarantee of, such a future is a Commission of Inquiry. An investigation of U.S.-sponsored torture will only be credible and thorough if conducted by a Commission comprised of citizens who are well-respected, non-partisan, and independent-minded.”

Read more: http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/06/08/spiritual-leaders-torture/

[SkyDaddy7]

1. Atheist for Religious Leaders!!!!!!

I could not agree more...I think this will happen in time.

[Wednesdays]

2. K&R

:kick:

[Wizard777]

3. Never put off until tomorrow the justice you can achieve today. That is how you move forward.

Their must be Justice.

[2 Much Tribulation]

4. Amen. nt

[msongs]

5. Obama is big on promoting religion, maybe this will have some appeal nt

[magellan]

6. 'The National Religious Campaign Against Torture, formed in 2006...

...is a delegation of representatives from “the Roman Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline Protestant, Unitarian, Quaker, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Baha’i, Buddhist, and Sikh communities,” the group claims. “Members include national denominations and faith groups, regional organizations and local congregations.”'

Representatives of the REAL America. :thumbsup:

[valerief]

10. Wow, Peaceniks for [insert god name here] instead of the roar of

Soldiers for Christ that spew hate non-stop. A nice change.

[Towlie]

7. Now let's see how many religious leaders oppose them.

Hopefully the religious opposition will be in the minority, but that remains to be seen.

[MasonJar]

8. Thank God for religious leaders with a conscience and a soul.

[KoKo]

9. No wonder there are so many Atheists...folks who have given up, turned against

organized religion...for the lack of Organized Religion to FIGHT FOR THE FOUNDATION of their BELIEFS.

I'm one who has fallen away from "Organized Religion" because there was not an Organized Push Back against Bush/Cheney. There were many small churches who tried. Here in NC the Pullen Baptist Church was with us marching against Bush's Invasion of Iraq before he Invaded! Southern...and Baptist ...but THEY took a stand! My own Episcopal Church was weaseley on it all...and never could get anything together for a stand. The United Church of Christ tried Mightily along with the Quakers to do something but CNN refused to air their ads.

It's a mess. I can understand why folks turn away from the PAP of Organized Religion after what we've been through with this Cabal of Evil where the Church became Falwell and his RW Mega-Churches having the Bull Horn for what American Church goers who were Christian were "supposed to support."

A terrible thing...to leave so many without any church at all...searching for the true teachings of Christ against the Blasphemers...and floundering an finally giving up and become DONE with all of it...

:-(

[valerief]

11. Most people are atheists because they understand why religion got

invented, understand how it's used today, and can't support the irrationality of its rules and its exploitation of people. Not that we don't truly appreciate people who do good things who are also religious. Most atheists think the people are generous because they want to be not because religion makes them generous.

(Note: This is clearly my opinion based on my experience with a lifetime of atheists.) :-)

[KoKo]

12. Oh...I can understand...but the "framework" of Jesus teachings being used

against the very people who founded Chritianity because they were so disgusted with the "Powers that Be" from that "other time long ago" is what is galling.

The obfuscation, abuse and disinformation of even the overthrowing of the Temple's Money Changers that would be such a vivid example for Christ's teachings for today's times...seems to be lost in the organized Christian churches of today.

How can we explain this?

We Can't.

[valerief]

14. The mouthpieces and "soldiers" of American Christianity are full of

right temporal lobe damaged people, I think. Kind Christians are too dangerous, I suspect.

[LiberalFighter]

16. Religious people are not going to be generous unless they want to be.

The only way that they are likely to be generous if it goes directly to their church. Which they have to if they want to continue being a member.

[Libertas1776]

13. Religious leaders come out of

the woodwork to call for inquiry over torture, under Bush: No, but now under Obama, You Betcha! (don't get me wrong, I support them for doing something right for once, but why wait until now?)

[pnwmom]

17. There was no point to doing it under Bush. With Obama,

they have a chance of getting through.

[Capt. America]

15. Amen from this atheist.

[Iliyah]

18. A lot

will be exposed thru this adminstration. No shock value, but real value. Let the American people see what's going on, slow maybe, but it's opening (somewhat).

[Capt. America]

23. love your icon picture

[earcandle]

19. Cool! Hope it makes a difference.

[winyanstaz]

20. This is a good step..

We need more people to help with this and to join in with writing, demonstrating and speaking out.

[Skittles]

21. ".....look forward — forward to a future where torture will never happen again"

DAMN STRAIGHT

[Vidar]

22. Glad to see some religious organizations on the right side for a change.

I hope they can exert some pressure on Obama.