By Kenneth J. Theisen, 4/21/07
Last month, the Bush regime must have been shocked to learn
the board of directors of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) at its
annual meeting endorsed, “An
Evangelical Declaration Against Torture: Protecting Human Rights in An Age of
Terror,” which criticizes the Bush regime’s treatment of
detainees and repudiated torture as a tactic in the so-called “war on terror.”
The NAE represents about 45,000 churches across the country.
It is an extremely conservative organization and in the past has been very
supportive of the Bush regime. Overall the Christian fascist agenda will result
in nothing but horror for the masses of people if it is implemented. But many supporters of the Christian right
can be broken away from this fascist agenda if they are confronted with what it
means in the real world. This appears to
have occurred here. Even this Christian right organization felt it had to take
a stand against the Bush regime’s continued abuse of prisoners captured in the
“war on terror.”
The 18-page endorsed document was written by Evangelicals for
Human Rights and states: “We write this declaration to affirm our support
for detainee human rights and opposition to any resort to torture”Tragically,
documented cases of torture and inhumane and cruel behavior have occurred at
various sites in the war on terror, and current law opens procedural loopholes
for more to continue”Human rights, which function to protect human dignity and
the sanctity of life, cannot be cancelled and should not be overridden.
Recognition of human rights creates obligations to act on behalf of others
whose rights are being violated. Human rights place a shield around people who
otherwise would find themselves at the mercy of those who are angry, aggrieved,
or frightened”Among the most significant human rights is the right to security
of person, which includes the right not to be tortured”International law
contains numerous clear and unequivocal bans on torture and cruel, inhuman, and
degrading treatment. These bans are wise and right and must be embraced without
reservation once again by our own government.”
The conclusion of the document states, “The abominable acts
of 9/11, along with the continuing threat of terrorist attacks, create profound
security challenges. However, these challenges must be met within a moral and
legal framework consistent with our values and laws, among which is a
commitment to human rights that we as evangelicals share with many others. In
this light, we renounce the resort to torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading
treatment of detainees, call for the extension of procedural protections and
human rights to all detainees, seek clear government-wide embrace of the Geneva
Conventions, including those articles banning torture and cruel treatment of
prisoners, and urge the reversal of any U.S. government law, policy, or
practice that violates the moral standards outlined in this declaration.”
Unfortunately as long as the Bush regime continues to exist,
abuse and torture of prisoners will continue to be part of its program. Only by driving the regime from power can its
crimes be stopped. But condemnations by
the NAE and others are important steps in removing the regime from power at the
earliest possible moment.