WAR, TERRORISM
AND TORTURE
VIOLENCE FOR A GOOD CAUSE?
OPENING PRAYER
Beatitudes
Matthew 5:3–12
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are
they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are
the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are
you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every
kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be
glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they
persecuted the prophets who were before you.
BLESSED CHARLES OF
AUSTRIA
Charles succeeded to the Austria-Hungarian
throne in November 1916, after the death of
Emperor Franz Josef.
As soon as possible he entered into
negotiations for peace with the Allies in an
effort to stop the continued fighting
Approved the dissolution of the empire to let
the associated states be self-governed
"Emperor Karl is the only decent man to come
out of the war in a leadership position, yet he
was a saint and no one listened to him. He
sincerely wanted peace, and therefore was
despised by the whole world. It was a
wonderful chance that was lost.“ - Anatole
France
“If what your country is doing seems to you
practically and morally wrong, is dissent
the highest form of patriotism?”
-The Use of Force in International Affairs
(Philadelphia: Friends Peace Committee, 1961), 6.
WARFARE
Catholic teaching on warfare is based on the idea of “We
should do no harm to our neighbors”
The Church in an effort to prevent wars and to reduce the
horror that war brings established the Just War Theory
Evil must not be allowed to remain unchecked
CATHOLIC STANCE ON
WAR
War must never be for self-gain or as an exercise of power
and only for a good and just purpose
Is “in the nation's interest” a good enough reason?
CATHOLIC STANCE ON WAR
The ultimate goal is swift and lasting peace and therefore
peace must be a central motive even in the midst of the
violence
WW1 leading to WW2 – Treaty of Versailles – The Allies
Ignoring the attempts of Blessed Charles of Austria
JUST WAR THEORY
Seven Criteria that must be met:
1) Just Cause – A real and certain danger
2) Competent Authority – War declared by
those responsible for public condition
3) Comparative Justice – Which side is
sufficiently “right”
4) Right Intention – War can be legitimately
intended only for means listed in the
Comparative Justice
JUST WAR THEORY
5) Last Resort – All peaceful alternatives
have been exhausted
6) Probability of Success – No hopeless
resistance – No suicide missions
7) Proportionality – Damage inflicted must
be proportional to good by taking up
arms
MODERN WAR
We seem to be using a philosophy of “perpetual war for
perpetual peace”
Israel versus Palestinians
US vs. Afghanistan and Iraq
CATHOLIC RESPONSE
Self-Defense is allowed
Against Stockpiling of Weapons of War
• Nuclear Weapons (CCC 2314)
• Arms Race (CCC 2316)
Respect for Conscientious Objectors
• Soldier who opposes a specific war because they feel it is not
just
TERRORISM
“Terrorism threatens, wounds, and kills
indiscriminately; it is gravely against
justice and charity.”
- Catechism 2297
REASON FOR TERRORISM
Shock peoples/countries to respond rashly;
use response to “justify” past and future
terrorist action
Position of Weakness; often times to drum
up support for unpopular causes after
response
9/11, Mumbai, Hezbollah, Hamas
CATHOLIC RESPONSE
Pope John Paul II: “No peace without
justice, no justice without forgiveness”
By not responding with violence; the
terrorist’s position is undermined
TORTURE
“Torture which uses physical or moral violence to extract
confessions, punish the guilty, frighten opponents, or satisfy
hatred is contrary to respect for the person and for human
dignity.”
-Catechism 2297
TORTURE
The United States has engaged in “enhanced interrogation
techniques” (CIA, black-bag agencies)
The US Military finds that information obtained by torture is
unreliable
CATHOLIC RESPONSE
Romans 12:21: "Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer
evil by good."
From U.S. military, building rapport with adversary for
information better
Interrogation with the dignity of the individual in mind
(UCMJ)
BACKUP
SOCIAL JUSTICE
As a Catholic, we have a lot of choices on issues for
advocacy
Find a topic that you are passionate about
“We are many parts (issues), we are one body (Church)”
CATHECISM
2297 Kidnapping and hostage taking bring on a reign of
terror; by means of threats they subject their victims to
intolerable pressures. They are morally wrong. Terrorism
threatens, wounds, and kills indiscriminately; it is gravely
against justice and charity. Torture which uses physical or
moral violence to extract confessions, punish the guilty,
frighten opponents, or satisfy hatred is contrary to respect
for the person and for human dignity. Except when
performed for strictly therapeutic medical reasons, directly
intended amputations, mutilations, and sterilizations
performed on innocent persons are against the moral law.