by hilzoy
Via Balkinization, a statement from the Traditional Values Coalition, which, according to its website, “is the largest non-denominational, grassroots church lobby in America”, and seeks “to empower people of faith through knowledge”:
“The Traditional Values Coalition asked members of Congress to support President Bush’s reform of prisoner treatment policies because “this is a war unlike any other we have fought — the enemy is faceless and deliberately attacks the innocent.”
TVC Chairman Rev. Louis P. Sheldon said American military and intelligence experts are hampered by a vague “outrages upon personal dignity” statement in Article Three of the Geneva Convention of 1950.
“We need to clarify this policy for treating detainees,” said Rev. Sheldon. “As it stands right now, the military and intelligence experts interrogating these terrorists are in much greater danger than the terrorists. Civil suits against our military personnel are tying their hands as they try to get vital information which will save the lives of our young military people and the innocent.”
“Our rules for interrogation need to catch-up with this awful new form of war that is being fought against all of us and the free world. The post -World War II standards do not apply to this new war.
“We must redefine how our lawful society treats those who have nothing but contempt for the law and rely on terrorizing the innocent to accomplish their objectives. The lines must be redrawn and then we must pursue these criminals as quickly and as aggressively as the law permits.
“And since this debate is, at its very core, about preserving the traditional value of prosecuting injustice and protecting the innocent, TVC will score this vote in both the House and the Senate. We encourage all of our supporters and affiliated churches to contact their elected representatives and let them know we support President Bush’s efforts to update our methods of interrogating terrorist detainees in order to provide greater protection for our troops and the innocent.””
Brian Tamanaha, who wrote about this at Balkinization, adds: “This can’t be right (although I’m not a Christian).” Well, I’m not a Christian either, but I used to be one, and retain a lot of respect for my old religion. Therefore, I don’t feel the least hesitation about saying: it’s not just that this isn’t Christianity; this is the antithesis of what Christianity is supposed to be all about. And I think it’s worth documenting this. I am not in favor of pretense generally, and so I am not in favor of Democrats who don’t like religion pretending that they do. For that very reason, however, I think it’s worth pointing out that there’s a lot in Christianity that is genuinely worthy of respect; and that whenever those in power, or those who wish to ingratiate them, have sought to pervert its message, they have always stood condemned by the words of the God whose name they take in vain.
Documentation below the fold.