The Church teaches that torture is evil. Included in the definition would be so-called “enhanced interrogation” techniques. Jesus Christ himself was a victim of torture, suffering incredible pain and indignity by the authorities. During this Lent, let us reflect on how we can better recognize torture in the policies and laws of our government and help to end torture in our own country and in the world.

Catechesis Video

The Holy See of the Catholic Church supports the International  “Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” which defines torture as: “For the purposes of this Convention, the term “torture” means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.” This definition, according to the USCCB, would seem to include so-called “enhanced interrogation” techniques as torture by another name.

Catechesis Reflection Questions

Grades 7-12

1. Read the definition of torture just above the videos. What actions would constitute torture?
2. Why might people think torture or “enhanced interrogation techniques” are acceptable?
3. Why does the Church reject such arguments?
4. How does torture and enhanced interrogation harm the victim?
5. How does it harm the person committing the act?

Parish Leadership/Committees

1. According to the Catechism “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.” and Vatican II states “whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself”  “are infamies indeed. They poison human society,…Moreover, they are supreme dishonor to the Creator.”(Gaudium et Spes, 27) When discussing torture and enhanced interrogation techniques, how might these statements and others by the Church help us better understand what is unacceptable with regards to people suspected of a crime or terrorist act?
2. How should the Church’s statements, as well as its approval of the UN Commissions against torture, help us define torture? Do these statements and teachings seem to include narrow or broad definitions of torture?
3. When discussing torture many people speak about the legal definitions and not the moral/ethical definitions as a way to limit the conversation on what constitutes torture. Why might this be? Is this a sound approach for Catholics when discussing torture and enhanced interrogation techniques?

Faith sharing/Parishioners/College Students

1. According to the Catechism “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.” and Vatican II states “whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself”  “are infamies indeed. They poison human society,…Moreover, they are supreme dishonor to the Creator.”(Gaudium et Spes, 27) When discussing torture and enhanced interrogation techniques, how might these statements and others by the Church help us better understand what is unacceptable with regards to people suspected of a crime or terrorist act?
2. How should the Church’s statements, as well as its approval of the UN Commissions against torture, help us define torture? Do these statements and teachings seem to include narrow or broad definitions of torture?
3. When discussing torture many people speak about the legal definitions and not the moral/ethical definitions as a way to limit the conversation on what constitutes torture. Why might this be? Is this a sound approach for Catholics when discussing torture and enhanced interrogation techniques?
4. How do the practices of torture and enhanced interrogation techniques harm our moral standing int he world? How do such practices endanger ourselves globally?

Witness Video – Venerable Cardinal Francis Xavier Van Thuan – Prisoner, torture survivor

If you want to watch more of Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan you can borrow the DVD “Road of Hope” from the Education Resource Center, “Road of Hope: The Spiritual Journey of Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan” DVD #31582

Witness Video Questions

Grades 7-12

1. Venerable Van Thuan suffered solitary confinement for 13 years. How do you think this kind of torture affects the human person?
2. When we hear the story of the Venerable Cardinal Van Thuan, how can we empathize with is suffering?
3. What if your family member or friend faced the same suffering that Van Thuan experienced, would you believe that such torture is unacceptable?
4. Can we see our enemies in the face of the Venerable Cardinal Van Thuan? Would we still think it acceptable to torture them if we saw Jesus Christ in our “enemy”?

Parish leadership/Committees

1. Are you aware of any survivors of torture in your community? (whether they were tortured by a government, a military, a law enforcement agency, or by individuals/groups)
2. When you think about a survivor of torture, who do you picture?
3. Is torture or enhanced interrogation techniques understood as something that happens “somewhere else”? Why is that?
4. Have you investigated to see if such things happen closer to home, state, city, region? What do you think you will find if you do?
5. Venerable Thuan was in solitary confinement for 13 years; something Pope Francis has defined as torture because of the mental and emotional harm it does to the person. What are the repercussions of solitary confinement?

Faithsharing/Parishioners/College Students

1. Are you aware of any survivors of torture in your community? (whether they were tortured by a government, a military, a law enforcement agency, or by individuals/groups)
2.  When you think about a survivor of torture, who do you picture?
3. Is torture or enhanced interrogation techniques understood as something that happens “somewhere else”? Why is that?
4. Have you investigated to see if such things happen closer to home, state, city, region? What do you think you will find if you do?
5. Venerable Thuan was in solitary confinement for 13 years; something Pope Francis has defined as torture because of the mental and emotional harm it does to the person. What are the repercussions of solitary confinement?

Parish Leadership/Committees

Action Steps

Grades 7-12

1. Study the effects of solitary confinement on people in jails and prisons. Contact legislators and present your evidence against such practices in state and federal prisons and jails. (additional resources study guides and other documents are a helpful start)
2. Write a letter to the editor opposing torture and enhanced interrogation techniques
3. Organize a vigil for those who are victims of torture

Parish Leadership/Committees

1. Take one of the study guides found in the “Additional Resources” and set up study sessions at your parish
2. Advocate against both torture and enhanced interrogation techniques to federal legislators and the executive branch of government through writing letters, phone calls, or in-person meetings with officials.
3. If the conversation of torture and enhanced interrogation techniques comes up in casual or formal settings help guide the conversation to the moral and ethical arguments rather than allowing people to simply look at legal definitions. Help others to see the broad scope of the Church’s condemnation of “torments inflicted on body or mind“ and how that should help shape public policy and law.
4. Organize a liturgy or prayer service dedicated to the victims of torture and for the nation to end such practices.

Faithsharing/Parishioners/College Students

1. Take time to study the Church’s teaching on the subject in more detail using the study guides from the additional resources section above.
2. Seek out ways to connect with others in the community on conversations about torture and enhanced interrogation techniques and help to form the conversation in moral and ethical terms instead of legal definitions and arguments.
3. Respectfully challenge others in conversations who promote or agree with torture and/or enhanced interrogation techniques by showing them the Church’s broad definitions of these topics as well as the dangers associated to the well-being of not only those who are tortured but those who do the torturing.

Closing Prayer

From now on, Lord,
Help me to bring your love everywhere:
to schools and hospitals,
to marketplaces and theaters,
to press and television.
No one should be deprived
of the environment of love.
Lord, love is the means you want me to use
to bear witness to you,
or you would have shown me another way.

(From Prayers of Hope, Words of Courage,
by Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan,
Pauline Books, 2002)