[Peace-discuss] Christians, war and torture

[Brussel Morton K.]

Opening lines by by Catholic Ray McGovern:

'Christians' Wink at Torture
by Ray McGovern
Anyone harboring doubts that the institutional Church is riding  
shotgun for the system, even regarding heinous sin like torture,  
should be chastened by the results of a recent survey by the Pew  
Research Center.

Who but the cowardly crew leading the "Christian" churches can be held  
responsible for the fact that many of their flock believe torture of  
suspected terrorists is "justified?"

Those polled were white non-Hispanic Catholics, white Evangelicals,  
and white mainline Protestants. A majority (54 percent) of those who  
attend church regularly said torture could be "justified," while a  
majority of those not attending church regularly responded that  
torture was rarely or never justified.

I am not a psychologist or sociologist. But I recall that one of the  
first things Hitler did on assuming power was to ensure there was a  
pastor in every Lutheran and Catholic parish in Germany. Why? Because  
he calculated, correctly, that this would be a force for stability for  
his regime. Thus began horrid chapter in the history of those who  
profess to be followers of Jesus of Nazareth but forget his repeated  
admonition, Do not be afraid.

A mere seven decades after the utter failure of most church leaders in  
Germany, their current American counterparts have again yielded to  
fear, and have condoned evils like torture by their deafening silence.…



More follows; see  http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/01-4
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