In the Catholic faith the Church teaches that "We believe that the idea of Peace still is, and still must be, dominant in human affairs, and that it becomes all the more urgent whenever and wherever it is contradicted by opposite ideas or deeds. It is a necessary idea, an imperative idea, an inspiring idea. It polarizes human aspirations, endeavours and hopes. Its nature is that of an aim, and as such it is at the base and at the goal of our activities, be they individual or collective." We must try for peace at all times. War is never a good thing, and we must try to avoid it. In fact Pope Francis once stated “We ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life, to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace. Yes, Christ
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This would fall under the just war theory. According to this theory Christians are allowed to participate in war to defend against an aggressor state as long as if the war is considered to be just. The theory was originally developed by St. Augustine. In order for the just war theory to come into effect the following conditions must be met, The war must be declared only as a last resort by a lawful authority, for a just cause, using just means, and with reasonable expectation of success. The military action cannot produce a greater evil than good. On the basis of this judgment, he would justify either participation in or abstention from war. If a Catholic is utterly convinced in conscience that a war is unjust and his own role constitutes direct participation in the effort, he has the right to refuse to participate, regardless of the consequences to themselves. Catholics in such a position to seek out the counsel of a Catholic priest or advisor in order to make a fully informed and morally correct decision. Therefore, the Catholic Church supports conscientious objectors. However many people believe that you must serve if you’re nation calls on you to do so, as a Catholic you must determine if the war is just and if it is not then you should not participate but accept the …show more content…
Every Pope in the Catholic Church since 1963 has condemned the use of nuclear weapons. The Second Vatican Council declared, “The horror and perversity of war is immensely magnified by the addition of scientific weapons. For acts of war involving these weapons can inflict massive and indiscriminate destruction, thus going far beyond the bounds of legitimate defense. All these considerations compel us to undertake an evaluation of war with an entirely new attitude”. In 2010 Cardinal George then the president of the USCCB wrote to President Barack Obama, “We are pastors and teachers, not technical experts. We cannot map out the precise route to the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons, but we can offer moral direction and encouragement. The horribly destructive capacity of nuclear arms makes them disproportionate and indiscriminate weapons that endanger human life and dignity like no other armaments. Their use as a weapon of war is rejected in Church teaching based on just war norms. Although we cannot anticipate every step on the path humanity must walk, we can point with moral clarity to a destination that moves beyond deterrence to a world free of the nuclear threat”. The Catholic Church encourages the world to avoid the use of nuclear weapons at all cost. Most people would agree that nuclear weapons should be avoided but there are some who think we need them. The Washington Post once called nuclear weapons the
This would fall under the just war theory. According to this theory Christians are allowed to participate in war to defend against an aggressor state as long as if the war is considered to be just. The theory was originally developed by St. Augustine. In order for the just war theory to come into effect the following conditions must be met, The war must be declared only as a last resort by a lawful authority, for a just cause, using just means, and with reasonable expectation of success. The military action cannot produce a greater evil than good. On the basis of this judgment, he would justify either participation in or abstention from war. If a Catholic is utterly convinced in conscience that a war is unjust and his own role constitutes direct participation in the effort, he has the right to refuse to participate, regardless of the consequences to themselves. Catholics in such a position to seek out the counsel of a Catholic priest or advisor in order to make a fully informed and morally correct decision. Therefore, the Catholic Church supports conscientious objectors. However many people believe that you must serve if you’re nation calls on you to do so, as a Catholic you must determine if the war is just and if it is not then you should not participate but accept the …show more content…
Every Pope in the Catholic Church since 1963 has condemned the use of nuclear weapons. The Second Vatican Council declared, “The horror and perversity of war is immensely magnified by the addition of scientific weapons. For acts of war involving these weapons can inflict massive and indiscriminate destruction, thus going far beyond the bounds of legitimate defense. All these considerations compel us to undertake an evaluation of war with an entirely new attitude”. In 2010 Cardinal George then the president of the USCCB wrote to President Barack Obama, “We are pastors and teachers, not technical experts. We cannot map out the precise route to the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons, but we can offer moral direction and encouragement. The horribly destructive capacity of nuclear arms makes them disproportionate and indiscriminate weapons that endanger human life and dignity like no other armaments. Their use as a weapon of war is rejected in Church teaching based on just war norms. Although we cannot anticipate every step on the path humanity must walk, we can point with moral clarity to a destination that moves beyond deterrence to a world free of the nuclear threat”. The Catholic Church encourages the world to avoid the use of nuclear weapons at all cost. Most people would agree that nuclear weapons should be avoided but there are some who think we need them. The Washington Post once called nuclear weapons the