Connecticut - Today, an interfaith group comprised of many of Connecticut’s top religious leaders held a press conference in Hartford to express support for the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007, legislation Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) introduced in February which would restore Habeas Corpus rights, bar evidence gained through torture or coercion and reinstate U.S. adherence to the Geneva Conventions. The bill is also supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, the Center for Victims of Torture, Open Society Institute, and Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International.

“Righting the wrongs of the Military Commission Act becomes more critical with each passing day, and consequently the Restoring the Constitution Act is becoming an increasingly crucial piece of legislation,” said Dodd. “I am greatly heartened by the support and commitment to this important issue shown by people across the country, especially here in Connecticut, and I am hopeful that we can continue to work together to enact the Restoring the Constitution Act into law.”

“I take a backseat to no one when it comes to protecting this country from terrorists,” Dodd continued. “But there is a right way to do this and a wrong way to do this. It’s clear the people who perpetrated horrendous crimes against our country and our people have no moral compass and deserve to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But in taking away their legal rights, the rights first codified in our country’s Constitution, we’re taking away our own moral compass, as well.”

The event, which was organized by Reclaiming the Prophetic Voice, was attended by Reverend Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree, Conference Minister of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ; the Most Reverend Peter Rosazza, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford; Doctor Ingrid Mattson, President of the Islamic Society of North America and Professor of Islamic Studies at Hartford Seminary; Rabbi Dr. Herbert Brockman, Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden; and Reverend Dr. Alvan Johnson, Bethel AME Church in Bloomfield, along with several other religious leaders. A senior member of Senator Dodd’s staff was also in attendance, and delivered a letter from Senator Dodd.