Protect human rights of allies, enemies, bishop tells senators

Published: 2005-10-07

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Efforts to combat terrorism, while a top priority for the government, must not undermine respect for human dignity, the chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on International Policy said in a letter to U.S. senators. "We believe that a respect for the dignity of every human person, ally or enemy, must serve as the foundation of the pursuit of security, justice and peace," said Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., in the letter. "There can be no compromise on the moral imperative to protect the basic human rights of any individual incarcerated for any reason," he added. In the letter, Bishop Ricard urged senators to approve amendments to the 2006 Defense Authorization Act proposed by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and backed by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The text of the bishop's letter was released Oct. 5 by the U.S. bishops' conference.

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