Just War Doctrine
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Are there times when injustice and evil are so great that it is immoral to do nothing or remain silent?
In light of the tragic events that took place on September 11, 2001 with the hijacked airliners and the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. we are forced to ask new questions and examine new issues. Many of our thoughts and prayers have been with the victims, their families, and all directly or indirectly affected.
It is situations like these that make us think more deeply about some of the precepts taught by the Church such as forgiveness, loving those who hate us, why does God allow evil in the world and why do the innocent suffer?
Even though most agree that this will be a different kind of war than we have faced in the past. We are now faced with an inevitable period of military action and response with the final outcome uncertain in many areas. Throughout the world many are in conversations about the response of the U.S. and what kind of war this is and will be. What does the Catholic Church teach about situations such as this? Section 2309 of the Catholic Catechism speaks to this issue in what is called the "just war" doctrine.
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2309 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. At one and the same time:
- the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
- all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
- there must be serious prospects of success;
- the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modem means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.
These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the "just war" doctrine. The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.
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Pope John who once said, "If you want peace, work for justice." Let's all pray for peace and justice in the future with the hope that God's Will, will be done here on earth.
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