latest press release

UNITARIAN CHURCH, DAVENPORT
3707 Eastern Avenue
Davenport, Iowa
563-359-0816
www.qcuu.org

PRESS RELEASE


June 15, 2008 Contact: Rev. Roger Butts 563-359-0816
Linda Gustitus 563-289-3462; 202-557-8867



Davenport Unitarian Church Joins Over 300 Hundred Congregations Nationwide in Displaying Banners Opposing the Use of Torture
Local participation linked to national effort to mobilize American faith
community response to U.S.-sponsored torture
[Davenport, IA] - Unitarian Church of Davenport , today, joined congregations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in displaying an anti-torture banner during the month of June, Torture Awareness Month. The "Banners Across America" initiative, organized by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), allows local congregations to participate in a nationwide, interfaith public witness against the torture practices and policies of the United States as graphically depicted in the pictures of Abu Ghraib prison released in April 2004.
"Torture is immoral; it is wrong; and it is illegal. There are no exceptions to the prohibition against the use of torture," said Linda Gustitus, President of NRCAT and a Unitarian, currently visiting the Davenport Unitarian Church. "We know the United States has committed numerous acts of torture as part of the 'war on terror', and it must stop. The banners across America are intended to show our leaders that people of faith feel strongly and believe deeply that we must not use torture regardless of our fears and threats. It corrodes the soul of our nation," she added.
NRCAT was organized in January 2006 by interfaith leaders in response to accounts of torture used by U.S. personnel on detainees held in Guantanamo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. NRCAT's stated goal is to stop U.S.-sponsored torture by establishing a common standard for interrogations by both the military and the CIA that prohibits torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; closing secret prisons; stopping transportation of suspects to other countries where torture is likely; and holding U.S. personnel who were involved in committing torture accountable.
Rev. Roger Butts, minister of Davenport Unitarian Church, said: "Never in my life did I think I would live long enough to see the United States as an agent of torture against our enemies. It is beneath our enduring, strong ideals as a nation. As a person of faith--who believes in the inherent worth and dignity of every single person--I am so proud that the Unitarian Church and other faith communities across the Quad Cities are displaying banners that say simply: Torture is wrong."
More than 300 congregations across the country, including five in Davenport (Unitarian Church, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, St. Ambrose University Campus Ministry, Sisters of Humility and Faith United Church of Christ) will display large black-and-white banners with messages “Torture Is Wrong” or “Torture Is a Moral Issue” during the month of June, seeking to raise awareness of the use of torture and to lift a religious voice of prophetic witness.

For more information about the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and Banners Across America, go to www.tortureisamoralissue.org. or contact the Unitarian Church, Davenport.

Today is the day

Today, the Unitarian Church is putting up its banner. Yesterday a photographer from the Rock Island Argus/Dispath came to take pictures. Today, who knows if any press will show up. But as the church celebrates its 140th birthday, we'll continue to make our presence known in the community. Photos later!

Sisters of Humility

The sixth congregation joins our efforts to moblize the faith community against torture. Read below about the Sisters of Humility.

Sisters of Humility Display Anti-Torture BannerSubmitted on: 6/09/2008Contact Person: Lisa Bellomy
Sisters of Humility in Davenport
The Congregation of the Humility of Mary (CHM) of Davenport have joined congregations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in displaying an anti-torture banner during the month of June. The "Banners Across America" initiative, organized by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), allows local congregations to participate in a nationwide, interfaith public witness linked to Torture Awareness Month. More than 275 congregations across the country will display large banners with messages like "torture is wrong" and "Torture is a Moral Issue." Many more congregations will incorporate an Interfaith Prayer of Recommitment into worship services during the weekend of June 6-8, seeking to raise awareness of the use of torture and to lift a religious voice of repentance and prophetic witness. Sr. Roberta Brich, President of the CHM community, stated, "Torture is a moral issue. It violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone involved. By hanging this banner we hope to inspire people to think about and discuss something that many would rather ignore." www.tortureisamoralissue.org

Faith United Church of Christ

Rev. Tim Darmour Paul of Faith UCC in Davenport submitted two pictures of his banner! His congregation joins St. Andrews Presbyterian, St. Ambrose University Campus Ministry and the Unitarian Church in Davenport, Iowa as Quad Cities congregations that have opted to join the NRCAT in its banners across America effort.

Press Advisory, Unitarian Church

National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT)

UNITARIAN CHURCH, DAVENPORT
3707 Eastern Avenue
Davenport, Iowa
563-359-0816
www.qcuu.org
Media Advisory For: Contact: Linda Gustitus 563-289-3462; 202-557-8867
Sunday, June 15, 2008 Rev. Roger Butts 563-359-0816


Davenport Unitarian Church Joins Over 300 Hundred Congregations Nationwide in Displaying Banners Opposing the Use of Torture
Local participation linked to national effort to mobilize American faith
community response to U.S.-sponsored torture
[Davenport, IA] - Unitarian Church of Davenport will join congregations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia on Sunday in displaying an anti-torture banner during the month of June. The "Banners Across America" initiative, organized by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), allows local congregations to participate in a nationwide, interfaith public witness linked to Torture Awareness Month.
More than 300 congregations across the country, including four in Davenport (Unitarian Church, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Faith United Church of Christ, St. Ambrose University Campus Ministry) will display large black-and-white banners with messages “Torture Is Wrong” and “Torture Is a Moral Issue”, seeking to raise awareness of the use of torture and to lift a religious voice of prophetic witness.
WHAT: Congregational ceremony to unveil Anti-Torture Banner displayed by Unitarian Church of Davenport
WHO: Rev. Roger Butts, congregation members, and Linda Gustitus, President of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.
WHERE: 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport
WHEN: Sunday, June 15th, 12:00 PM -- immediately after the 11:00 AM service.
For more information about the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and Banners Across America, go to www.tortureisamoralissue.org.

Press Advisory, Unitarian Church

National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT)

UNITARIAN CHURCH, DAVENPORT
3707 Eastern Avenue
Davenport, Iowa
563-359-0816
www.qcuu.org
Media Advisory For: Contact: Linda Gustitus 563-289-3462; 202-557-8867
Sunday, June 15, 2008 Rev. Roger Butts 563-359-0816


Davenport Unitarian Church Joins Over 300 Hundred Congregations Nationwide in Displaying Banners Opposing the Use of Torture
Local participation linked to national effort to mobilize American faith
community response to U.S.-sponsored torture
[Davenport, IA] - Unitarian Church of Davenport will join congregations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia on Sunday in displaying an anti-torture banner during the month of June. The "Banners Across America" initiative, organized by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), allows local congregations to participate in a nationwide, interfaith public witness linked to Torture Awareness Month.
More than 300 congregations across the country, including three in Davenport (Unitarian Church, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, St. Ambrose University Campus Ministry) will display large black-and-white banners with messages “Torture Is Wrong” and “Torture Is a Moral Issue”, seeking to raise awareness of the use of torture and to lift a religious voice of prophetic witness.
WHAT: Congregational ceremony to unveil Anti-Torture Banner displayed by Unitarian Church of Davenport
WHO: Rev. Roger Butts, congregation members, and Linda Gustitus, President of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.
WHERE: 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport
WHEN: Sunday, June 15th, 12:00 PM -- immediately after the 11:00 AM service.
For more information about the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and Banners Across America, go to www.tortureisamoralissue.org.
//

Quad Cities Religious Campaign Against Torture

We are starting a chapter of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture in the Quad Cities. We are blessed to have Linda Gustitus, the president of NRCAT, with us in the Quad Cities this year and she has inspired us to act. Our first action is to send out a letter (see next post) to all the congregations in the Quad Cities asking them to hang a banner in June.
To learn more about the banner hanging initiative of NRCAT, visit
http://www.nrcat.org/
We will be posting notes and initiatives here in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, email revrogerb@msn.com to learn more. Be well, Roger Butts