War - Social - Lifestyles & values

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The nightly news is often a very distressing experience for me. The effectiveness of modern means of communication means that images from war zones and scenes of terrorist attack are more and more common place. Catholics value immensely the virtue of peace. They accept their duty to be peacemakers (see The Bible, Matthew's Gospel, chapter 5 verse 9). As a Catholic, I believe that all life is precious and is to be protected. War is only permitted in extreme and unusual circumstances. Sometimes war may be the only just solution to serious international problems'.

Catholics believe that all war is to be avoided, however, there are some situations when a war is said to be 'just'. They are, when:

The damage inflicted by the aggressor on a country or community is going to be lasting, grave and certain.

All other means of putting an end to conflict have failed; have not been effective or practical.

There is the serious possibility of success.

The use of weapons doesn't result in evils and effects worse than those the aggressor would have caused.

(Above based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2309).

Once all efforts to keep the peace have failed, a group, community or country, has the right to defend itself.

Pause for thought - Image of four Abrams Tanks moving into battle

Can there ever be a just reason to go to war?

Image of a missile being launched from a warship

Our national and public authorities have a huge responsibility laid upon their shoulders as to deciding when a war is just and for the good of all.


	"The Church knows nothing of a sacredness of war. The Church which prays the 'Our Father' asks God only for peace." Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Pan Dictionary of Religious Quotations, pg. 444

"How can it ever be right to kill someone? I mean, surely there are other ways to end conflict."

"If it is a matter of self-defence and involves protecting ourselves, war makes sense to me."

"Even if a war was considered to be just, I wouldn't want my child to be called up, whatever the circumstances."

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Lifestyles & values:

War.
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