Religious Leaders Call for Red Cross Access to Detainees

May 26, 2010

May 25, 2010

Members of the U.S. Senate
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives
The Capitol
Washington, D.C.


Dear Members of Congress:

We are writing as national and state religious leaders to ask you to support legislation that requires all federal agencies to notify the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) of all U.S.-held detainees and to allow the ICRC access to them. This requirement was included in President Obama's executive order on interrogations; however, legislation is required to codify this requirement so that it remains permanent U.S. policy.

An independent neutral observer, the ICRC has a mandate to visit detention facilities around the world to ensure that prisoners of war and other detainees are treated humanely as required by international law. The United States has long opposed holding detainees incommunicado and supported ICRC access because secret detention is most often used as the means to engage in unlawful and inhumane treatment. Consequently, the U.S. State Department has repeatedly criticized other governments for engaging in "disappearances" in its annual human rights reports.

However, during the years immediately prior to President Obama's executive order, the United States itself engaged in these practices that run counter to international law and to our most fundamental values. By passing legislation permanently providing the ICRC with access to U.S.-held detainees we can prevent secret detentions, strengthen America's ability to advocate for the appropriate treatment of Americans detained overseas, and restore U.S. credibility on the issue of torture.

While we represent a wide diversity of America's religious traditions, we all believe in the inherent worth and dignity of human life. Consequently, acts of torture and inhumane treatment are unequivocally antithetical to all of our religions. We believe that it is of the utmost importance that our country guarantees the humane treatment of all detainees and ensures that torture is never used again. Passing legislation that permanently provides the ICRC with access to all U.S.-held detainees is one important step we can take to achieve that goal.

Sincerely,


Bishop Howard J. Hubbard
Chairman, Committee on International Justice and Peace
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster
President, The Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church

Rev. Richard Cizik
President
New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good

Rabbi Steve Gutow
President
Jewish Council for Public Affairs

William Aiken
Director of Public Affairs
Soka Gakkai International - USA
Buddhist Association

Rev. Geoffrey Black
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ

Archbishop Nicolae Condrea
Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas

Rabbi Tirzah Firestone
Co-chair
Rabbis for Human Rights-North America

Rev. Dr. Wes Granberg-Michaelson
General Secretary
Reformed Church in America

Rev. Dr. David P. Gushee
Chairman of the Board
New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns
Professor of Christian Formation and Discipleship
Church of God Theological Seminary

Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon
General Secretary
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA

Rabbi Ellen Lippmann
Co-chair
Rabbis for Human Rights-North America

Dr. Ingrid Mattson
President
Islamic Society of North America

Rev. A. Roy Medley
General Secretary
American Baptist Churches USA

Rev. Peter Morales
President
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

Stanley J. Noffsinger
General Secretary
Church of the Brethren

Rev. Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church, (USA)

Nancy Ratzan
President
National Council of Jewish Women

Rabbi Yael Ridberg
President
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Rabbi David Saperstein
Director and Counsel
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

The Most Reverend Michael Seneco
Presiding Bishop
North American Old Catholic Church

Suhag Shukla
Managing Director
Hindu American Foundation

Manmohan Singh
Secretary General
World Sikh Council - America Region

Ervin R. Stutzman
Executive Director
Mennonite Church USA

Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed
National Director, Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances
Islamic Society of North America

Archbishop Vicken
Diocesan Legate
Armenian Church of America

Joe Volk
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation

Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Jim Winkler
General Secretary
General Board of Church and Society
The United Methodist Church

Rabbi Eric Yoffie
President
Union for Reform Judaism

Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Director of Outreach
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Scott Anderson
Executive Director
Wisconsin Council of Churches

Jim Baird
Interim Executive Director
New Mexico Conference of Churches

Mary Lu Bowen
Executive Director
New York State Council of Churches

Rev. Peg Chemberlin
Executive Director
Minnesota Council of Churches
President
National Council of Churches

Joan Diefenbach, Esq.
Director
New Jersey Council of Churches

Rev. Jan Olav Flaaten
Executive Director
Arizona Ecumenical Council

Rev. Gary L. Harke
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Council of Churches

Rev. Jack Johnson
Executive Director
Massachusetts Council of Churches

Rev. Brenda Lynn Kneece
Executive Minister
South Carolina Christian Action Council

David Lamarre-Vincent
Executive Director
New Hampshire Council of Churches

David Leslie
Executive Director
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

Rev. Russell L. Meyer
Executive Director
Florida Council of Churches

Bee Moorhead
Executive Director
Texas Impact

Rev. J. George Reed
Executive Director
North Carolina Council of Churches

Rev. Jill Saxby
Executive Director
Maine Council of Churches

Rev. Dr. Rick Schlosser
Executive Director
California Council of Churches IMPACT

Rev. Dennis D. Sparks
Executive Director
West Virginia Council of Churches