The Maine Council of Churches urges Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, both of whom serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee, to carefully consider our concerns about torture as they deliberate over appointing a new CIA director.

This continues our legacy of steadfast leadership in opposition to all forms of torture and reaffirms our longstanding partnership with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. In the past, our advocacy on that issue has included sponsoring an ad signed by more than 100 Maine clergy calling for the release of the 500-page Executive Summary of the Senate Intelligence Committee Report on CIA Torture; advocating for the McCain-Feinstein law strengthening the ban on torture; and promoting awareness of the impact of solitary confinement in Maine as a form of torture that needs to be ended.

We challenge Maine’s senators to ask direct and tough questions during committee hearings to assure clarity about any potential nominee’s history and attitudes about torture. As a non-partisan organization, we do not oppose or support political nominees, but we join with partners through NRCAT to encourage our senators to seriously and effectively challenge all potential appointees to affirm their unwavering commitment to oppose torture.

It is our view that anyone with a history of being involved with torture, permitting torture to take place or destroying documents that provide documentation of human rights violations should be disqualified for public service.

Rev. Jane Field, executive director, Maine Council of Churches, Portland