Religion & Law

FORDHAM CENTER ON RELIGION AND CULTURE

Torture and American Culture:
An Inquiry and Reflection

Tuesday, 21 October 2008, 1 ? 5 p.m.

Fordham University ? Lincoln Center Campus ? McNally Amphitheatre ? 140 W. 62nd St.

The photographs that revealed the torture and abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib shocked the world. Further revelations of CIA rendition policies, deaths in custody, Guantanamo detainees and government secrecy raise critical questions about U.S. culture and the conditions that have fostered the resort to torture.

THIS FORUM WILL EXAMINE TWO ISSUES:
   

1. What in U.S. culture predisposes us to torture or a tolerance for torture?
2. What strengths and weaknesses have U.S. leadership groups (political, military, religious, medical, psychological, legal, etc.) exhibited in responding to the current controversies over torture?

Session I: 1 ? 2:15 p.m.
Popular Culture, Graphic Representations of Torture and Violence

MODERATOR
William McGarvey, editor-in-chief, Busted Halo, online magazine.

PANELISTS
David Danzig, Human Rights First, director, Primetime Torture Project.
Todd Gitlin, professor, Columbia University School of Journalism.
Richard Alleva, film critic, Commonweal.

Session II: 2:30 ? 3:45 p.m.
American Elites and Their Response to Torture

MODERATOR
Frederick Wertz, professor, Fordham University, Department of Psychology.

PANELISTS
Legal Profession: William Treanor, dean and professor of law, Fordham University School of Law.
Military and Intelligence: Col. Patrick Lang (Ret.), president, Global Resources Group.
Religion: Drew Christiansen, S.J., editor, America magazine.
Psychology: Stephen Behnke, director, ethics office, American Psychological Association.

Further Reflections: 4 ? 5 p.m.

MODERATOR
Margaret O?Brien Steinfels, co-director, Fordham Center on Religion and Culture.

PANELISTS
The panelists in conversation Q & A from the audience.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
R.S.V.P. to CRCevent@fordham.edu, (212) 636-7347
For more information: www.fordham.edu/ReligCulture