Apologize: The Just War
... because, once again, I was both the only woman and the only Christian sort-of pacifist Trying To Hold Her Own over dinner at the Ivy Noodle last night... Fr. WB thinks he won, but I doubt it- though I must quote Wally- "it smells like Hauerwas around here"...this is for you, Adam.
So the question remains, which of the recent US wars actually meet
these criteria?
these criteria?
Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that God's goodness might free us from the ancient bondage of war.
All citizens and governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war.
The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy.
Thus at one and the same time, the following conditions must be met:
1) The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
2) All other means of putting an end to violence must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
3) There must be a serious prospect of success;
4) The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2307-2309
posted by MM at 8:26 AM
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