Email 2/3/09 from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture

Dear Friends,

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture is sponsoring two important events in the Washington, DC area in March.

First, NRCAT is a co-sponsor again of the Ecumenical Advocacy Days which will take place March 13-16 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, Virginia, across the river from Washington, DC. It is an important gathering of Christians who come to DC to lobby on a variety of issues. To learn more and to register: http://www.advocacydays.org/.

During Ecumenical Advocacy Days, there will be a workshop called "Next Steps in Ending U.S.-Sponsored Torture". It will provide an opportunity to talk about the tasks ahead for the religious community as we work to end U.S.-sponsored torture once and for all, including advocating for an independent nonpartisan commission to investigate our torture policies and practices since Sept. 11, 2001.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2009, from 3:45 - 5:30 p.m. Speakers include Scott Horton, a New York attorney known for his work in human rights law and legal affairs and national security contributor at Harper's Magazine and Dr. George Hunsinger, founder of NRCAT and Professor of Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Second, the Catholic Leadership Council of NRCAT, the Life Cycle Institute and the Center for International Social Development of the Catholic University of America will sponsor a conference on "Torture, Conscience and the Catholic Moral Tradition" at Catholic University on Thursday, March 19, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will explore the decisions of conscience by Catholics in the public square regarding the use of torture. It will be held in the Moot Court Room of the Columbus School of Law. The speakers include:
Josh Casteel, former U.S. Army interrogator
Steve Colecchi, Director of the Office of International Justice and Peace, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Maryann Cusimano Love, Associate Professor of International Politics, Catholic University of America
Margaret O'Brien Steinfels, Co-Director of the Center on Religion and Culture, Fordham University
General Anthony Taguba, Chief Investigator of Abu Ghraib
For more information about this free event and to register for a dinner during the conference click here.

Sincerely,

Linda Gustitus, President, NRCAT
Richard Killmer, Executive Director, NRCAT