From Germany to Belgium, international ACAT chapters also took part in night vigils from June 25 to 26.
During the Toronto vigil, Shirima, who represented Jesuits International and the Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice, described a visit to an immigration office in the Democratic Republic of Congo where he was shown to the wrong office.
“What we saw was horrific,” he said. “There were people tied up in chains and you could see they’d been tortured.” 
A few months later when teaching at a college, he recognized a fellow teacher as one of the victims of torture he saw in that office.
“And this teacher was scarred,” said Shirima. “Torture leaves scars. Maybe worse than the physical scars; when a spirit is broken, it will not heal that easy.”
Along with Shirima’s reflections, some of the evening’s events included a powerpoint presentation showing areas in the world that ACAT is praying and advocating for, including Sudan, Sri Lanka and Morocco, prayers and reflections led by the Loretto Sisters and songs sung by candlelight. As well, Guy Gauthier, the president of ACAT-Canada, joined the vigil via Skype.
“When we think of what Jesus went through in terms of torture and capital punishment and suffering — this is at the heart of the passion,” Scharper told those gathered. “And so, it becomes for me a huge issue of faith when torture is being legitimated by people who claim fealty to Christians.”
And it’s important to keep in mind that torture is not just an interrogation technique that was used in old times, said Harleen Panesar, ACAT-Toronto co-ordinator.
“It’s something that continues to exist and it needs to stop,” she said. “So it’s a moment to stop and stand in solidarity with survivors and victims of torture.”
Those who were unable to attend the vigil were able to pledge 15 minutes to pray in solidarity online, said Panesar.
For more information on ACAT, see www.acatcanada.org.
Vigil rallies support for torture victims worldwide
By Vanessa Santilli-Raimondo, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO - Christians should be lobbying their Members of Parliament to put pressure on countries that exercise torture, Jesuit Father Valerian Shirima told a small group gathered at a 12-hour prayer vigil held by the Toronto chapter of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT).
Commemorating the United Nations’ International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, about 15 people attended the vigil at the University of St. Michael’s College, which ran from 7 p.m. June 25 to 7 a.m. the following morning, for various lengths of time.
“We are collectively praying together, meditating and thinking of victims of torture,” Stephen Scharper, director of ACAT-Toronto, told The Catholic Register.
ACAT is an ecumenical organization that campaigns for the abolition of torture throughout the world and lends support to victims. First established in Paris in 1974, the organization is now active in 30 countries. The Toronto chapter was founded in October 2010 by Scharper with help from his PhD student, Simon Appolloni.
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