Unitarian Universalist Congregations Take Public Stand Against Torture
October 30, 2008
On June 1, 2008, the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church in Bethesda, MD, hung a banner outside its congregation in opposition to torture, as part of the Banners Across America project of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT). Cedar Lane’s banner had been purchased by middle school children in the congregation’s religious education program, using money earned through a bake sale and an art sale.
Three weeks later, congregants arrived at church to find the stakes supporting the banner torn out of the ground and destroyed. The church board purchased additional stakes, only to find those destroyed the following night. Religious education advisor Bonnie Beavers remarks, “It was a real eye-opener to many people that this subject is so controversial.” Beavers also wrote an op-ed in her local paper, The Gazette, stating “Torture is not political—it is a moral issue.”
Over fifty Unitarian Universalist Association congregations have participated in Banners Across America. Linda Gustitus, president of NRCAT and a congregant at River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Bethesda, Maryland, recognizes the significant contribution of Unitarian Universalists.
“Unitarian Universalist congregations have a very visible and important presence in the work of NRCAT,” says Gustitus. “For example, Unitarian Universalist congregations were the largest number of any denomination participating in our Banners Across America project in June of this year. And in some states, particularly in the South, where it was a challenge to get congregations to display anti-torture banners because of the social pressures, Unitarian Universalist congregations responded to our call.”
Five Unitarian Universalist congregations in Mississippi participated in “Banners Across America”: Our Home Universalist Unitarian Church in Ellisville, Hattiesburg Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Oxford, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Tupelo.
Luanne Buchanan, communications trustee at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Oxford, has been a leader in her congregation’s anti-torture initiatives. Buchanan describes anti-torture witness as a way for her politically-diverse congregation to “affirm that we care about the whole world [and] everybody’s dignity.” This past summer the congregation hung a banner and became a member of NRCAT, with the support of the congregation’s board.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Oxford also joined with the Tupelo congregation and marched with their banners through downtown Tupelo on June 21, 2008. The demonstration was organized by Bob Spencer of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Tupelo. Spencer explains his passionate opposition to torture, “Torture degrades the victim, demeans the torturer and is inexcusable conduct for a civilized people.”
At Pacific Unitarian Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, retired U.S. Air Force officer Clay Bosler leads the congregation’s anti-torture initiatives. His experience as a military officer drives his efforts to speak out against U.S.-sponsored torture, and he delivered a pulpit editorial on the subject last April. PUC also participated in Banners Across America and hosted a screening of The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib.
This winter, Unitarian Universalist congregations are taking the next step in their anti-torture advocacy by supporting NRCAT’s campaign for an executive order banning torture. November 12, 2008, is NRCAT’s National Day of Witness for a Presidential Order to Ban Torture. Unitarian Universalist congregations can participate in the following ways:
- Organize meetings with your U.S. senators and representatives and
encouraging them to call for an executive order banning torture.
- Participate in NRCAT’s November 12th march to the White House
in Washington, DC.
- Display your anti-torture banner in November, in support of the National Day of Witness, and in January, to coincide with the presidential inauguration.
In addition to joining the National Day of Witness, there are many other ways for Unitarian Universalist congregations to be involved in anti-torture advocacy in the coming year. The First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Albuquerque has become a member of NRCAT, participated in Banners Across America, led a youth conference discussion about torture, proposed a successful action of immediate witness at General Assembly, given a presentation on anti-torture advocacy at another nearby UU congregation, and displayed their banner at the Mountain Desert District conference.
To learn more about the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque's work, please visit "First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque's Anti-Torture Witness."
This work is made possible by the generosity of individual donors. Please consider making a donation today.
Last updated on Tuesday, March 30, 2010.
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