WAR, TERRORISM AND TORTUREVIOLENCE FOR A GOOD CAUSE?

OPENING PRAYERBeatitudes

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.

WARFARECatholic 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.