Iona College faculty, students discuss torture, terrorism and warfare

Published: 2008-03-13

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (CNS) -- A fast-paced, provocative faculty discussion on torture, terrorism and warfare drew more than 125 students to a tiny second-floor theater on the campus of Iona College in New Rochelle March 11. The participants heard an impassioned defense of international conventions barring torture of prisoners and were asked to consider if there are ever circumstances under which torture is justified. The event, timed to coincide roughly with the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq, was the third of seven sessions of an election-year symposium based on the U.S. Catholic bishops' November 2007 statement, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility." The statement is part of a series of documents the bishops have issued before every presidential election for more than 30 years. It is not a voter guide but is aimed at helping form consciences for political involvement. Christian Brother James Ligouri, Iona College president, introduced the topic, saying, "Citizenship that is blind or ignorant is not good citizenship. Citizenship that goes against our values is not faithful."

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