WASHINGTON — A Southern Baptist leader on Wednesday condemned waterboarding and said it "violates everything we believe in as a country.”
"I don’t agree with the belief that we should use any means necessary to extract information,” said Richard Land, head of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. "For me, The ultimate test is: Could I, in good conscience, do whatever I am authorizing or condoning others to do? If not, then I must oppose the action.”
Land’s comments come amid new scrutiny of the legal authorization given by Bush administration lawyers for interrogation methods that included waterboarding of suspected terrorists.
President Barack Obama reiterated last week that he considers waterboarding — which simulates drowning — to be torture. But many, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, have said interrogation methods used in the wake of the 9/11 attacks led to information that saved American lives. Obama ordered the release of documents last month that revealed waterboarding was used repeatedly on at least two suspects.
Land said waterboarding "contravenes an individual’s personhood and humanity.”
"There are some things you should never do to another human being, no matter how horrific the things they have done,” Land said. "If you do so, you demean yourself to their level.”
by the associated press
"I don’t agree with the belief that we should use any means necessary to extract information,” said Richard Land, head of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. "For me, The ultimate test is: Could I, in good conscience, do whatever I am authorizing or condoning others to do? If not, then I must oppose the action.”
Land’s comments come amid new scrutiny of the legal authorization given by Bush administration lawyers for interrogation methods that included waterboarding of suspected terrorists.
President Barack Obama reiterated last week that he considers waterboarding — which simulates drowning — to be torture. But many, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, have said interrogation methods used in the wake of the 9/11 attacks led to information that saved American lives. Obama ordered the release of documents last month that revealed waterboarding was used repeatedly on at least two suspects.
Land said waterboarding "contravenes an individual’s personhood and humanity.”
"There are some things you should never do to another human being, no matter how horrific the things they have done,” Land said. "If you do so, you demean yourself to their level.”
by the associated press
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