For Immediate Release: January 3, 2012

Contact: Rev. Richard L. Killmer, (202) 547-1920

Where the Republican Presidential Candidates Stand on Torture

(Washington, D.C.) The National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund (NRCAT-AF) has released its Voter Guide on Torture for the 2012 Republican presidential primaries. The NRCAT-AF opposes torture under all circumstances and seeks to educate the electorate about the positions of candidates on the use of torture. The  2012 Primaries Voter Guide  compares what the candidates have said on waterboarding, which is an acknowledged form of torture, and highlights those who oppose it. Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director of NRCAT-AF, describing the Voter Guide, stated:

"All faiths oppose the use of torture. It is both immoral and illegal. It is one of a handful of crimes recognized in international law as impermissible under any and all circumstances. And waterboarding is torture. It is recognized as such by the U.S. which has prosecuted soldiers who committed waterboarding, and the international community. Anyone who suggests otherwise is simply wrong. Yet Republican candidates are divided on their positions on its use by the United States government.

"Four candidates oppose the use of torture and waterboarding, yet others support the use of waterboarding or refuse to answer whether it's torture or not. As all of the candidates are professed Christians, we encourage them to look to the teachings of their faith. Catholic teachings, for instance, call torture an 'intrinsic evil.' Torture is immoral and is contrary to the teachings of all faiths.

"We must be faithful not only when it is easy, or when it might make us more popular with voters. Instead we must also be faithful when it is hard. Opposing torture is an opportunity for the presidential candidates to be faithful and to live up to the values for which the U.S. is admired."

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The National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund is a coalition of people of faith who oppose torture. It engages in public policy advocacy and electoral campaign work. It is a partner organization of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. Its website is www.nrcatactionfund.org.

National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund Voter Guide on Torture for the 2012 Republican presidential primaries - The  2012 Primaries Voter Guide