NJPN comment for the Catholic Universe, 3.1.17

NJPN finds the suggestion that Donald Trump would not be concerned by the use of waterboarding as a means of interrogation completely unacceptable.  It is further disturbed by the view expressed by Tory MP Bob Stewart that, whilst not condoning waterboarding, suggested that sometimes other forms of torture might be justified as methods of interrogation.

In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we read that:  “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” (Article 5) and further “Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law” (Article 6)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “torture which uses physical or moral violence to extract confessions, punish the guilty, frighten opponents, or satisfy hatred is contrary to respect for the person and for human dignity”(para: 2297)

Anne Peacey 30.1.17