The Church teaches that all Catholics must act to avoid war. It also teaches that sometimes nations have a duty to go to war. Which war demands which response? And when practically all of the world's bishop speak with one voice on a war, how should Catholics respond?

The Church's language in describing its preference for peace has grown increasingly strong. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war. All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war” (No. 2307–8).

‘Pro-War’ Vatican

Does that mean countries can never defend themselves, according to the Vatican? Certainly not. The Catechism adds, “governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed.” The Vatican is not reflexively against war. In the case of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, Vatican officials acknowledged the justice of the American action.

“The father of a family who sees his own attacked has the duty to do everything possible to defend the family, the lives of persons entrusted to him, including, if need be, with proportional violence. Christian tradition on this point,” namely just war, must be updated, also keeping in mind “the new possibilities of destruction, of new dangers.”

… Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, asked about Operation Enduring Freedom in November 2001.

“We recognize that Operation Enduring Freedom is a response to the terrorist aggression against innocent civilians, acts that violated all international laws and humanitarian norms. Today we all recognize that the U.S. government, like any other government, has the right to legitimate defense, because it has the mission to guarantee the security of its citizens.”

—Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican secretary for relations with states, on Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001.

“It is true that, if someone has seriously wounded society, and the danger exists that if he remains free he might do it again, there is the right to defend the society one leads, even though this implies that the means used might be aggressive … Sometimes self-defense implies an action that might lead to a person's death.”

—Papal spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls, on Operation Enduring Freedom in September 2001.

‘Anti-War’ Bishops and Vatican

However, when it comes to the current situation Iraq, the Vatican and Catholic bishops around the world are vehemently opposed to the proposed U.S.-led war. Some of their quotes follow.

“No to war! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity; international law, honest dialogue, solidarity between states, the noble exercise of diplomacy: These are methods worthy of individuals and nations in resolving their differences. I say this as I think of those who still place their trust in nuclear weapons and of the all-too-numerous conflicts which continue to hold hostage our brothers and sisters in humanity. … And what are we to say of the threat of war which could strike the people of Iraq, the land of the prophets, a people already sorely tried by more than 12 years of embargo? … War is never just another means that one can choose to employ for settling differences between nations.”

—Pope John Paul II, Jan. 13.

“[Washington] has not offered conclusive evidence of imminent danger to its national security … [the] government of the U.S.A. has recently threatened to use nuclear weapons against Iraq. This is unworthy of the oldest representative democracy in the world. Furthermore, the government of the United States has compromised its own basic principles by implicitly endorsing the use of torture since Sept. 11, 2001.”

—Cardinal James Francis Stafford, head of Vatican's Council for the Laity, Feb. 3.

“Whom does it suit to confront 1 billion Muslims and run the risk of decades of hostility from the Muslim world?”

—Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican Secretary of State, Jan 30.

“I would draw a parallel with the death penalty,” he said. “In the catechism there is an admission that the death penalty could be needed in extreme cases. But Pope John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae [the Gospel of Life] says that society now has all the means to render a criminal harmless who before might have been sent to the gallows. This could well apply to the case of war. Modern society has to have, and I think it has, the means to avoid war.”

Archbishop Renato Martino of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Jan. 28.

“As the calamity of war in Iraq looms on the horizon, we recognize that this conflict will have far-reaching and disastrous consequences for all our region. We share the concern of our Muslim brethren and all people of good will in expressing their total condemnation of this pre-emptive strike. We call upon President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair to reverse their decision to wage war and, instead, to use other means to force Iraq to comply with the U.N. resolutions for disarmament of weapons of mass destruction. We also call upon Iraqi leaders and other world leaders to play their part in an all-out effort to avoid war and prevent untold sufferings for millions of innocent people who will be affected by a war.”

—Archbishop Lawrence Saldhana, president, Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Jan. 21.

“Let us ask God that the nations come to an understanding through the way of peace; war is not necessary; there are many ways to attain peace. Things cannot be settled by force or imposition.”

—Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, Mexico City, Jan. 21.

“For years, the Iraqi people, most especially the children, have suffered atrociously from the consequences of the international embargo against that country. Let us not martyr them still more, while all the ways of dialogue have not been exhausted and the danger that the Iraqi dictator poses has not been proved. Moreover, we must be aware that a war against Iraq would ‘wound’ many Muslims and would certainly produce the contrary of the hoped-for effect, namely, a strong rise of the terrorist menace on the part of Muslim fanatics.”

Swiss Bishops, Feb. 5

“We respectfully urge you to step back from the brink of war and help lead the world to act together to fashion an effective global response to Iraq's threats that conforms with traditional moral limits on the use of military force.”

—Bishop Wilton Gregory, president, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Sept. 18, 2002.

“Therefore, we call upon all people responsible to do everything within their power to prevent war in Iraq and, as Pope John Paul II put it, “to extinguish the ominous smoldering of a conflict, which, with the joint efforts of all, can be avoided.” In this hour, no one is allowed to show resignation or tactical opportunism and to submit to the seemingly unstoppable process. We point out emphatically that the international community will not be condemned to inactivity as it disapproves of the option of war. It is necessary to continue exerting pressure on the regime of the dictator Saddam Hussein and to practice the policy of firmly restricting his freedom of military action.”

—German Bishops’ Conference, Jan. 22.

Sometimes it's those closest to the problem who see it best. On the question of liberating the Iraqi people, what do Iraqi bishops think?

“I appeal to the whole world, to all men of good will, to join the Pope in praying for peace. And we pray that this peace will descend from the omnipotence of God. We ask for it with the strength of our faith, of our prayers, of our love. Thank you and pray for us. Do not forget us. We do not understand this war. It is a threat to our children, our elderly, our sick, our young people, who for 12 years have known nothing about their future. Where is freedom? Where is Christian charity? All are to blame. All have caused the past wars and this one, which is about to be verified. How can we define it as a just war?”

—Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni of Iraq, Jan. 9.

Archbishop Gabriel Kasab of Bashrah, Iraq, said Iraq suffers from a lack of drinking water, electricity and medical assistance — but not homelessness and unemployment. He added, “No one with a conscience can support a war. Contrary to many neighboring countries, Iraq, governed by the Ba'ath Party, allows almost 1 million Christians of different denominations, 80% of whom are Chaldean Catholics, to live without problems.”

Compiled by Bill Christensen.