WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- A coalition of religious groups has asked President-elect Barack Obama, as one of his first acts, to ban the use of torture, officials say.
Leaders of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture said they are optimistic that "it's going to happen" soon if not necessarily on Day 1, The New York Times reported Thursday.
Group representatives met in Washington with officials of the Obama transition team on Wednesday and came away feeling encouraged, Linda Gustitus, the group's president, told the Times.
"We still believe that it would be a very, very important statement to the nation and the world, were it to take place on Day 1," she said.
Obama has been clear in his condemnation of the use of torture.
The broad coalition includes Roman Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christian groups and organizations for Muslims,Jews, Bahais, Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs.
