Zero Dark Thirty Has Given a Boost to the “Torture Works!” Crowd

That’s not actually true, as real interrogators who are not actors keep pointing out. But moviemakers, in certain circumstances, love to say it does anyway when they want their heroes to look at gritty, badass, and willing to cut moral corners for the Greater Good. And the Thing that Used to be Conservatism *loves* torture. *Loves* it. Celebrated it for years. Wrapped it in euphemism, upheld it with endless sophistries. Never admitted it was wrong. Perpetually appealed to fantasies like “24” as justification for their “realistic” love of torture. Cheers for it consistently at every Presidential debate while booing candidates who cite.s the Golden Rule.

Anyway, back in the world of Catholic teaching, torture remains what the Church says, gravely and intrinsically immoral. It’s also–as grave evil tends to to be–stupid, counter-productive, and a Faustian Bargain that steals your soul and gives *nothing* in return. But even if it did work (as, for instance, murder often “works”) it is still evil. Here are some good people working to extirpate this latest popular evil: