2021: A Year in Review
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

  • Voices
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Covenant Partners
    • Issue Statements
    • Governing Board
    • Careers
  • Programs
    • NC Interfaith Power & Light
      • NCIPL Overview
      • Faith in Action NCIPL
      • NCIPL Articles
      • NCIPL Resources
      • Upcoming Events for NCIPL
      • Contact NCIPL
    • Partners in Health & Wholeness
      • PHW Staff
      • Mini-Grants
      • PHW Collaborative Pledge
      • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
      • Mental Health Advocacy
      • BIPOC Mental Health Grant
      • Growing Communities of Inclusion: A Faithful Response to HIV
      • Healthy Aging
      • Citizen Science
      • PHW Articles
      • FAQs
  • Priorities
    • Racial Justice
    • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • Criminal Justice
    • Immigrant Rights
    • Public Education
    • Farmworkers
    • Legislative Advocacy
    • Christian Unity
    • Peace
  • Events
  • Resources
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Publications & Reports
    • Raleigh Report
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
  • Donate
  • Council Store
  • Show Search

Search NC Council of Churches

Hide Search

More Truth About Torture

Para Drake, NC No Torture Project Coordinator · January 22, 2019 · Leave a Comment

Click here to sign up to receive the Raleigh Report in your inbox

The decade-long struggle for truth and justice got a welcome boost this weekend with a powerful opinion piece in the News & Observer. The writer, former N.C. resident and Capitol Hill staffer, Tommy Ross, eloquently makes the case for release of the full Senate Intelligence Committee’s 2014 report on the CIA’s Rendition, Detention, and Interrogation (RDI) program as well as supporting the findings of the recently released “Torture Flights” report by the North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture. Ross’ piece effectively makes the case for the “release of the full report detailing the CIA’s post-9/11 use of torture against detainees, its misrepresentations of those activities to Congress and the public, and the utter ineffectiveness of torture.” Read the full piece here.

To take this same message to people of faith, last year, the NC Council of Churches initiated the program, NC No Torture. It offers the opportunity to learn the facts about the CIA program, including the role that North Carolina played in that program, and get involved in the ending of NC taxpayer support of illegal torture and rendition. NC No Torture provides connections with others who believe that torture is immoral, illegal, and ineffective. It facilitates actions to help shine the light on the program that was operated by NC-based Aero Contractors on behalf of the CIA.

In partnership with the grassroots advocacy group, NC Stop Torture Now, the Council program encourages people of faith to become involved in activities that will lead to a full disclosure and investigation by NC Governor Cooper and Attorney General Stein of NC’s role in torture. In the meantime, NC No Torture is set apart by its focus upon confession, repentance, and forgiveness that hallmark the actions of faith. In addition to signing petitions and sending postcards to political representatives, candles bearing the names of those kidnapped and transported in NC jets are given to those willing to pray for the victims and their families. A prayer for those harmed and a prayer of forgiveness accompany each one.

The NC Commission of Inquiry on Torture and it’s groundbreaking report, which Ross’ piece lifts up, cites evidence that jets housed at the Johnston County Airport were used to transport illegally kidnapped and tortured people from one black-site to another around the world. Their full report, released September 27, 2018, can be read www.nctorturereport.org. Chapter 9 of the Report contains new research and legal analysis outlining what our state and county officials have the authority to address in exposing the CIA program.

Tommy Ross notes the tireless work by many people in NC, “Thanks to their persistence over many years, these citizens were able to establish the North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture. The Commission’s recently released report, Torture Flights: North Carolina’s Role in the CIA Rendition and Torture Program, not only sheds new light on the CIA’s program but also represents a conscientious reckoning with North Carolina’s history of enabling key aspects of it.” This work continues and we invite you join.

Coordinated by the Rev. Para Drake, you are invited to involve yourself in this critical work. Visit the NC Council of Churches’ website, volunteer, and financially support the effort. Contact Drake at 919-828-6501 or email her at para@nccouncilofchurches.org.

Filed Under: Blog, Homepage Featured, Raleigh Report Tagged With: Peace

About Para Drake, NC No Torture Project Coordinator

Para Drake has served churches in the NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. Ordained elder in 1999, she has served as the Convener of Clergy Women, Chairperson of the Peru Covenant Task Force, Equitable Compensation Commission, and currently serves on the Conference Communications and Creation Care Committees. Her interest in this project comes out of her experiences in mission, recognizing the intrinsic value of human life in God’s eyes. She hopes to build upon the work of longtime advocates Allyson Caison, Christina Cowger, and Catherine Read who have laid a statewide foundation for connecting the people of NC to the Commission’s hearings and the final report, to be released September 27, 2018.

Reader Interactions

More Like This

Democracy, Values & the 2020 Election: A Reflection Guide for Faith Communities
On Not Going to Church
No More War

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous comments or comments that target individuals will not be posted (please include your first and last name). All comments must be on topic and respectful. Comments will not be posted until they have been reviewed by a moderator. Comments do not reflect the positions of the NC Council of Churches.

Footer

Contact

NC Council of Churches
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

Facebook

Partners in Health and Wholeness

Featured

More Truth About Torture

Latest Tweets

#SCOTUS has overturned Roe v. Wade, making it crystal clear how much #CourtsMatter. Reproductive choice is a healthcare decision and women should make those decisions about their own bodies. We stand by those words today.

About 2 days ago

We affirmed in 1970 that reproductive choice is a healthcare decision and women should make those decisions “without embarrassment, excessive cost, and unwarranted delay.” We stand by those words today.

About 2 days ago

Grant opportunity for BIPOC faith communities in North Carolina to apply towards COVID-19 mental health efforts. Follow the link for more details! ncchurches.org/bipoc…

About 2 days ago

Join us this Sunday! twitter.com/Christin…

About 2 days ago

"All people of faith and spirituality with a role in the financial system have a responsibility to create action immediately, to put the world on a path to a just and sustainable future." publicnewsservice.or…

About 3 days ago

Follow @ncchurches

Latest Tweets

Greetings! Be sure to stop by our table at the Western NC Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church at Lake Junaluska this weekend! We hope to see you there! pic.twitter.com/30bk…

Last week

Hello twitter family! Be sure to stop by our table at the NC Conference of the United Methodist Church in Greenville, NC starting today! We hope to see you there! pic.twitter.com/l6X3…

Last week

Our mini grant cycle is now open!!! pic.twitter.com/eyRp…

About 3 weeks ago

RT @faithleadership Faith coalitions are addressing the opioid crisis by providing resources, connections and a destigmatizing vision. lght.ly/45iam80 Featuring: @okconfchurches | @ODMHSASINFO | @healthandfaith | @ncchurches | @DukeTMCI | @shannon_fleck

About 3 weeks ago

Join us for Sacred Conversations: Older Adults - Fraud & Scams on Friday, June 24th from 11 AM to 12 PM and learn to recognize common scams targeted towards older adults and how to protect yourself and those in your faith communities. ncchurches.ourpowerb…

About a month ago

Follow @healthandfaith

Latest Tweets

Faith Leaders Call on U.S. to Pay Fair Share for Climate Related Loss #USFairShare Click to listen - 2min w/Rev. Malcom @mtmalcom & Rev. @Susannah_Tuttle: shar.es/afbjPy @scennetwork1 @uscan @WEDO_worldwide @ActionAidUSA @AlabamaPJC @foe_us @UCSUSA @ClimateNexus

About 6 days ago

RT @mocleanair Climate change affects everything: investments, agriculture, health, factories, transportation, the electric grid. Fossil fuels cause climate change, and @LloydsofLondon needs to stop insuring fossil fuels. Climate change is wreaking havoc with the economy and our health. Enough! twitter.com/parents4…

About 6 days ago

RT @mocleanair Today @mocleanair, @GeorgiaIPL and @CleanAirMoms_GA delivered postcards to @SenatorWarnock asking for more funding for #EVschoolbuses! #EV schoolbuses are better for kids health and learning! #post4theplanet #cleanair4kids #CleanAir #ClimateAction pic.twitter.com/ztzI…

About 2 weeks ago

RT @mocleanair #EVschoolbuses: better for health, better for education, better for climate, and good for Georgia’s economy. A real win-win-win! #post4theplanet #CleanAir #HealthyAirIsHealthCare #ClimateAction #ClimateActionNow @GeorgiaIPL @NCIPL @uwomenfaith @AlabamaPJC @eldersclimate twitter.com/mocleana…

About 2 weeks ago

RT @alinterfaithpl You don’t want to miss this! Register RIGHT NOW with this link: us02web.zoom.us/meet… twitter.com/alabamap…

About 2 weeks ago

Follow @ncipl

Latest Tweets

Copyright © 2022 NC Council of Churches · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design · Hosted by WP Engine