This column answers questions of Ethics and Religion by submitting them to a multi-faith panel of spiritual leaders in the Grand Rapids area. We’d love to hear about the ordinary ethical questions that come up on the course of your day as well as any questions of religion that you’ve wondered about. Tell us how you resolved an ethical dilemma and see how members of the Ethics and Religion Talk panel would have handled the same situation. Please send your questions to [email protected].
Fred Wooden, the senior pastor of Fountain Street Church, responds:
“No and no. It makes the torturer (the individual and the nation) into a criminal, morally at least, because using fear and suffering is cruelty, something every religion and every nation calls wrong. The only conceivable way this could be OK is if it were effective. Over and over it has proven ineffective. Thus it cannot be justified. That national leaders still think torture works is appalling, and shows egregious ignorance or indifference.”
Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds:
“I would be very surprised if anyone on this panel would agree to torture being used as a method of defense. There are several great stories of warfare in Hindu literature; in no instance do I see an encouragement of ‘enhanced interrogation.‘ Not only is it highly immoral, every credible expert I have heard has sited clearly that it just does not work.
“I hope this opens us up to further conversations about what should be allowed in national defense. For some reason we deem ourselves worthy of a pass for the devastation of civilians in international conflicts for generations.”
Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Adjutant Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds:
“Torture is a moral issue, not a matter of civil law. The Catholic Church teaches that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. Because an attack against human dignity is an attack against God, torture gravely demeans not only a human being but also all human beings as well as God.
“The goal of civil and criminal law is to order society. The goal of religious laws, such as the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law, is to lead people to eternal life. Because of the severe debasement of the human person, torture may never be decriminalized by civil and criminal law.”
R. Scot Miller, who writes from an Anabaptist and Quaker Christian perspective, responds:
“The nation state reserves the right to torture and establish other means of defending security or conquering enemies. Like laws regarding euthanasia, one may be charged and even found guilty of murder, yet relieved of sanctions by judge or jury in hindsight. Yet, while God may have ordained certain institutions which are authorized or not by humans to maintain order, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the ethics of Christ are explicit. Torture is not Christian behavior, it is not condoned by the gospel or Christ, and if one chooses to torture, even for the assumed or potential benefit of the common good, they cease to be Christian. In fact, Christians should never be in a position where torture is an option, for the cross refuses such an option in establishing God’s Kingdom. One who calls themselves Christian must not torture, support torture, or work to legitimize torture in any manner. It is an indefensible action for a person of faith to take.”
Ty Silzer, a former pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America who attends Mars Hill Bible Church, responds:
“This is really a question of ‘can we use evil to fight evil?’
“The simple answer to that is ‘no.’ It’s cliché wisdom to ‘fight fire with fire’ but scripture says simply: ‘…if your enemy… is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head, Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’ (Romans 12:20-21).
“Torture is both effective and easy. But it dehumanizes the torturee and the torturer, furthering cycles of violence (both legalizing war crimes and continuing the perpetuation of illegal ones). Because I follow Jesus, I believe no person is beyond redemption, including the torturee. Many Christians claim to be pro-life, but this has to extend beyond fetuses and newborns: the ‘life’ in pro-life has to mean life for everyone, everywhere, including our perceived enemies.
“The first generations of Christians following Jesus’ death were not just pro-life but anti-violence. It wasn’t for weakness they were run down in the Colosseum, it was for refusal to partake. That position might seem easier when on the underside of power, but it has to be all the more important for Christians (or anyone) in power.
“ ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.’ (Matthew 5:7) Hopefully, we never wrongfully torture an innocent person in any scenario. But by not showing mercy to guilty persons, we too become unmerciful, so from where will our desired mercy then come?”
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