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Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with additions of a letter from Senator Dick Durbin and a letter from former ambassadors.
Several Catholic groups have opposed President Trump’s candidacy for the post of director of the Central Intelligence Agency, saying Gina Haspel’s role in overseeing torture disqualifies her, in accordance with “basic moral standards of human dignity.”
The move marks a rare case of Catholic activists opposing a government candidate, rather than addressing specific political issues.
“Confirming that someone who actively supervised torture is the director of the CIA would send the world a very unhealthy, unethical and rule of law message to the world,” said one. May 7 letter sent to all U.S. senators ahead of Haspel’s confirmation hearings, which begin Wednesday.
“Our friends and allies would question our opposition to torture, and tyrants and dictators would point us once again to justify their own use of torture,†the letter said.
The letter was signed by Pax Christi USA, a national Catholic peace organization, and groups representing religious men and women, including the Conference of Major Superiors of Men and Network, a Catholic lobby for social justice.
Other signatories included the Franciscan Action Network, the Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns, the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the USC Province of the Society of the Sacred Heart and the Institute Justice Team of the Mercy Sisters of the Americas. .
“Catholic social teaching is clearly against the practice of torture because it violates human dignity, and it is certainly not in keeping with Jesus’ way of reconciling and loving enemies”, Eli McCarthy, director of justice and peace for the Conference of Major Superiors. of men, told NCR.
McCarthy quoted from Pope John Paul II’s 1993 encyclical Veritatis Splendor, which condemned physical and mental torture as inherent evil.
Concerns about Haspel, deputy director of the CIA, center on his supervision of “a secret CIA detention center in Thailand where interrogators drowned two al-Qaeda suspects” in 2002, and his involvement in the destruction of videotapes, without White House approval, of these interrogations to protect CIA personnel and their families, according to press articles.
The first woman to be appointed head of the CIA, Haspel worked undercover for most of her 33 years at the agency, which means most of the information about her past is kept under wraps. On Friday May 4, she offered to withdraw of the nomination, but was persuaded by White House officials not to give up.
According to CIA records cited in the letter to senators, interrogators at the Thai site were at times “on the verge of tears and suffocation” and “likely to choose to be transferred off the site.”
“There is no indication, however, that Ms Haspel attempted to stop the use of torture at the site – indeed, she may have been transferred there to allay interrogators’ concerns about the site regarding the legality of the techniques used, “the letter read.
President Donald Trump has expressed interest in lifting the current restrictions on torture, and Haspel’s confirmation could send a message of US support for previously banned interrogation techniques, say those who oppose his confirmation.
In a related action, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Deputy Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and Democratic Whip, questioned the “aggressive” lobbying of the CIA to promote the appointment of Haspel.
Another concern of the writers of the letter concerns American Catholic humanitarian and pastoral workers abroad, who would be “wary and threatened” if Haspel is confirmed.
For example, Maryknoll has priests, brothers, sisters and lay missionaries in over 30 countries abroad, including some where torture is practiced.
“There are times when you need to speak clearly about your lived experience,†said Susan Gunn, communications manager for Maryknoll’s office for global concerns. “Silence would be complicity.
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture, or NRCAT, also opposed Haspel’s appointment, calling her “morally repugnant” that she was elevated to head the CIA.
“Haspel cannot be trusted to follow the law, nor to represent our country’s core values ​​of ethical government and transparency,†Reverend Ron Stief, Executive Director of NRCAT, told a declaration of March 13.
Letters from Protestant and Jewish leaders opposed to Haspel’s appointment were also handed over to senators on Tuesday. Also speaking against his confirmation are human rights organizations, retired military officers and the American Psychological Association.
Durbin’s concern was the “extensive public relations campaign” using CIA resources to promote Haspel’s appointment. “These efforts to promote a national security appointment appear to be unprecedented in recent history,” Durbin wrote in a May 8 letter to Dan Coats, director of national intelligence.
“We need to determine whether our intelligence agencies should conduct public affairs campaigns aimed at a co-equal branch of government,” Durbin wrote, noting that the use of appropriate funds to try to influence action on issues legislative is illegal, although these laws do not specifically apply. for applications.
As Haspel’s hearing began on Wednesday morning, 115 former ambassadors also published a letter expressing concerns about its links to the use of “improved interrogation techniques†or torture.
Its confirmation “would undermine the work of countless diplomats, military personnel and intelligence professionals who continue to engage with their foreign counterparts on why the United States believes torture and other forms of abuse are not only morally wrong.” , but strategically short-sighted and legally inadmissible, “the letter reads.” At a time when the rule of law is under considerable strain around the world, it is a cost we cannot afford. “
McCarthy would like to see more attention from Catholics on torture and related issues. Instead, some Catholic policymakers have played a role in legitimizing such practices, he said.
“I think we can have a better witness as Catholics,†McCarthy said.
[Heidi Schlumpf is NCR national correspondent. Her email address is [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @HeidiSchlumpf.]
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