Take Action: Read about the recently released Torture Memos and find out what you can do to end torture for good

There are still steps we must take to end U.S.-sponsored torture for good.

On April 17, the Justice Department released four more of the "Torture Memos:" legal opinions written by the Office of Legal Counsel that gave cover to the harsh interrogation tactics used on detainees held in American custody. The horrific interrogation methods they described included direct physical abuse of detainees, and some of the methods described in the memos have never before been publicly acknowledged.

The President took the right step in releasing the memos, which he did against significant opposition from current and former intelligence officials.  However, we are disappointed that he precluded, across the board, prosecution of the CIA agents who used the techniques. If the lower level CIA staff cannot be investigated for criminal culpability, then it will be even more difficult to investigate and prosecute senior officials from the last Administration. There has also been strong reluctance from the current Administration to even open a Commission of Inquiry about U.S.-sponsored torture, as RHR-NA and NRCAT have called for.

Read more about the Memos,including NRCAT's Torture Memos page and Lilliana Segura's article on Alternet about the ten most horrific findings from the Torture Memos. We have also posted the ICRC report from Guantanamo on the RHR-NA website, along with select responses from the press.

Steps you can take:

Support NRCAT's call for a Commission of Inquiry. Join other people of faith in calling for a bipartisan, independant Commission to investigate American torture policy since 9/11. The NRCAT page includes sample OpEds, a petition version of the call for a Commission of Inquiry, and a place for you to endorse.

Call the White House at 202-456-1111 and express your support for an investigation of American use of torture. Or email the President at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.

Jay Bybee, one of the authors of the Torture Memos, is now a federal judge. The New York Times has called for his impeachment. Join the Center for Constitutional Rights in demanding a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee on whether the grounds exist to impeach Bybee.

Thank you so much for your efforts.