INTERMOUNTAIN YEARLY MEETING

IMYM Minute of 2012 & 2013 endorsing National Religious Campaign Against Torture

NRCAT Endorsement

Clerk Sara Keeney said that the 2012 annual gathering had sent a proposed minute endorsing

the National Religious Council Against Torture statement to meetings as a Fall Query and in January, 2013 the Continuing Committee approved bringing the minute before this gathering for approval. Sharon Gross read the proposed minute as follows:

The Intermountain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends wishes to become

an endorsing member of the National Religious Campaign against Torture (NRCAT).  We

endorse the following “Statement of Conscience,” agreeing that torture is a moral issue.

Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest

ideals, hold dear.  It degrades everyone involved--policy-makers, perpetrators and

victims.  It contradicts our nation's most cherished ideals.  Any policies that permit

torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.  Nothing less is at

stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation.  What does it signify if

torture is condemned in word, but allowed in deed?  Let America abolish torture now--

without exceptions.

Sara Keeney explained that NRCAT does not allow endorsing groups to amend the statement, so we either accept this as written or not. The minute will be on the agenda for approval at a later session.

IMYM 2013.10: The Intermountain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends

wishes to become an endorsing member of the National Religious Campaign against

Torture (NRCAT).  We endorse the following “Statement of Conscience”; agreeing that

torture is a moral issue.

Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest

ideals, hold dear.  It degrades everyone involved--policy-makers, perpetrators and

victims.  It contradicts our nation's most cherished ideals.  Any policies that permit

torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.  Nothing less is at

stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation.  What does it signify if

torture is condemned in word, but allowed in deed?  Let America abolish torture now--

without exceptions.

Clerk Sara Keeney said she would circulate the statement to monthly meetings. She proposes sending the statement to local newspapers as a letter to editor and requests contact information for them and follow up by meetings.