Horrendous Torture of Iraqi Prisoners
Is Challenge to Reflect on Larger Moral Issues
WASHINGTON (May 17, 2004) --
Referring to recent photos of Iraqi prisoners tortured by U.S. soldiers as
"horrifying" and "disgusting," the chairman of the bishops' International
Policy Committee said the abuse cases are a challenge to reflect on larger
moral issues.
"The abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners have brought shame upon our nation,
is an affront to our most basic ideals, and will undermine legitimate efforts
to confront the very real threats faced by our nation and the world," said
Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, of Pensacola-Tallahassee in a statement released
today.
Bishop Ricard said the prisoner abuse cases highlight "two related moral risks
that could arise in responding to the horrors of September 11th and the
difficulties in Iraq."
The first, he said, is a sense of "exceptionalism. We can lose sight of the
hard truth that the twin feelings of victimization and moral superiority do
not free us from the moral obligation to uphold the basic rights even of our
worst enemies who, themselves, show contempt for such rights."
The second moral risk, Bishop Ricard said, occurs when "the gravity of the
threats we face tempts us to tolerate an ends-justify-the-means morality."
"The moral challenge at this moment is to address the horrendous cases of
abuse in a way that proves to the world – and, most importantly, to ourselves
– that our nation has not succumbed to these risks," Bishop Ricard said.
The full text of Bishop Ricard's statement follows:
"The horrifying images from Iraq are overwhelming. The disgusting pictures of
the cruelty of some U.S. soldiers are surpassed by the grotesque beheading of
Nicholas Berg and the abhorrent claim that his murder will redeem the dignity
of the Iraqi prisoners.
"The abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners have brought shame upon our nation,
is an affront to our most basic ideals, and will undermine legitimate efforts
to confront the very real threats faced by our nation and the world.
"As our nation expresses its revulsion at the crimes committed in its name and
undertakes the essential task of determining the nature, extent and
responsibility for the abuses, it is worth reflecting on two related moral
risks that could arise in responding to the horrors of September 11th and the
difficulties in Iraq.
"The first risk arises from the fact that the uniquely catastrophic evil done
to us on September 11th – and the continuing evils exemplified by the
grotesque beheading of Nicholas Berg – can feed a sense of exceptionalism. We
can lose sight of the hard truth that the twin feelings of victimization and
moral superiority do not free us from the moral obligation to uphold the basic
rights even of our worst enemies who, themselves, show contempt for such
rights.
"The second risk is a natural outgrowth of the first. The gravity of the
threats we face tempts us to tolerate an ends-justify-the-means morality. The
inherent justice of our cause and the perceived necessities involved in
stopping terrorism can lead to a minimalist morality that accepts a
"permissive" interpretation of international law, the "inevitability" of
mounting civilian casualties in Iraq, and the "realism" of an over-reliance on
military responses to the problem of global terrorism.
"The moral challenge at this moment is to address the horrendous cases of
abuse in a way that proves to the world – and, most importantly, to ourselves
– that our nation has not succumbed to these risks. The universal condemnation
of what has taken place at Abu Ghraib is a hopeful sign that, despite the
unspeakable evils done to us and the terrible threats we face, our nation is
committed to acting in full accord with fundamental moral norms and America's
cherished ideals of liberty and justice for all. In doing so, we will uphold
international law, strengthen the moral fiber of our nation, and best honor
the memory of the victims of September 11th and the soldiers and civilians who
have died in Afghanistan and Iraq."
__________________________________
Office of Communications
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000
May 17, 2004 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops