Lettera contro la tortura

Conference of Catholic Bishops United States

March 5, 2008

The Honorable George W. Bush
President
The White House
Washington, DC

Dear Mr. President,
The FY 2008 Intelligence Authorization Act, HR 2082, will be placed before you shortly.It contains an important provision, Section 327, which would expand the ban on torture tointelligence agencies. I respectfully urge you to sign these anti-torture provisions into law.
Torture undermines and debases the human dignity of both victims and perpetrators. It isnever a necessary cruelty. Pope Benedict XVI, in a September 6, 2007 address, stated, "Ireiterate that the prohibition against torture cannot be contravened under any circumstances."
The issue of torture also has a major impact on the way the United States is viewedabroad. As a champion of human rights, the U.S. should avoid being perceived as engaging inactions that contravene Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention.
I thank you for your consideration of this most important issue.

Sincerily yours,

Francis Cardinal, Georges OMI
Archbishop of Chicago

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Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development
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WEBSITE: WWW.USCCB.ORG/SDWP


April 3, 2008

The Honorable Christopher R. Hill
Assistant Secretary of State for
East Asian and Pacific Affairs
U.S. Department of State
2200 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Assistant Secretary Hill:
As Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I note with concern that the protests which began peacefully in Lhasa, Tibet in early March have resulted in violence and loss of life. I commend the remarks made by Secretary Rice calling for calm in Tibet and asking the Chinese government to exercise restraint in responding to the protests as well as appealing to all parties to turn away from violence. We understand that the Dalai Lama has repeatedly urged the protesters, both monks and civilians, to be non-violent. In response to the deteriorating situation, Pope Benedict XVI has called for “dialogue and tolerance” as a way forward to a peaceful resolution to the current unrest in Tibet, and we add our voice to that call.
Over the years, our Bishops’ Conference has expressed its concern about protection of basic human rights, especially religious liberty, in the People’s Republic of China. The eyes of the world are on China in the run-up to the Summer Olympics 2008. In your interaction with the Chinese government, we would ask that you impress upon the Chinese leadership the need to respect the cultural diversity, traditions, and rights, including religious freedom, of minorities, be they Tibetan Buddhists or Chinese Christians.

Sincerely yours,
Most Rev. Thomas G.Wenski
Bishop of Orlando
Chairman, Committee on International
Justice and Peace