Bishop says abuse of prisoners undermines war on terrorism

Published: 2004-05-19

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The head of the U.S. bishops' international policy committee said the abuse of Iraqi prisoners has undermined legitimate efforts to combat terrorism. "The abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners have brought shame upon our nation, are 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 of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla. Bishop Ricard said there was a risk that U.S. troops had developed a belief that they were justified in abusing or torturing enemy combatants as a way of retribution for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. "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 (of) even our worst enemies who, themselves, show contempt for such rights," he said in a statement released May 14.

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