To the editor:

In his sensationalist book, “Courting Disaster,” former President George W. Bush speechwriter Marc Thiessen states his belief that Catholic teachings permit waterboarding.

As a practicing Catholic, I have no idea where this absurd claim comes from. Thiessen’s argument is based in manipulating the word “torture,” arguing that waterboarding is not torture and therefore allowed by Catholic doctrine. He also says the Catholic church would favor actions taken in defense of the general good.

His argument is petty and insulting, both to Catholics all over the world, and to his readers. The Catholic church is the world’s largest philanthropic organization, a major supporter of world peace, and a source of faith and comfort for more than 1 billion people – not an organization that sanctions torture.

And yes, depriving someone of oxygen in order to make them tell you something (waterboarding) is torture, plain and simple.

Luckily, Thiessen has attracted excoriating responses from all sectors of the Catholic sphere, which should indicate this is not a common viewpoint. I felt compelled, however, to make sure this paper’s readers know how absurd and insulting this claim is, and just how wrong  Thiessen is.

Ryan Budd

Kennebunkport