Before he had been in office two full days, President Obama issued an executive order banning torture: ending the CIA abuse of detainees, closing U.S. secret prisons, and providing the International Committee of the Red Cross with access to U.S.-held detainees.  The full text of the executive order is available on the White House webpage.

Thanks for your work to make this happen!

The executive order also created a special Task Force comprised of high-level Administration officials who will meet over the coming months to review U.S. interrogation policies and recommend changes.  Send a message urging them to recommend only those changes that will strengthen, not weaken, rules against torture.

Looking ahead, we will also seek to have Congress incorporate the executive order into laws which will be binding on future administrations.

The work of UCC members and the leadership of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture  have been important components of this campaign. May God continue to bless this ministry of justice.