The headlines are full of the talk of war in Iraq and building tensions with North Korea. Where, as Catholics, do we stand on these issue? Should we support the use of military force to prevent Saddam Hussein from developing weapons of mass destruction? Or should we be marching in the peace rallies decrying the policies of President Bush in his strong stand against Saddam?

This is a good opportunity to see how each of us determine our opinions on such matters. What criteria should we use to form our opinion? In a recent class (those of you who are in the Bible Study group) we discussed the need to properly form one's conscience according to the teachings of the Church and then pray for guidance of the Holy Spirit to properly apply the principles to concrete situations.

What does the Church say about war? Well, the Church clearly sees war as something to be avoided if at all possible. Yet the Church also recognizes instances in history where war was not only unavoidable, but the moral thing to do in order to stop an unjust aggressor. The Church has enumerated the conditions required for a "just war":

1. the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
2. all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
3. there must be serious prospects of success;
4. the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated.

The current stance of the Vatican and of the US Bishops is that these principles are NOT yet met ("based upon the facts known to [them]") in the case with the threat of US/British lead attack against Iraq. Yet there are credible opinions which state that these conditions are met and that using force against Saddam is the moral thing to do.  It is important to note that we, as Catholics, are obliged to give full consent of intellect and will to the authoritive teachings of the Church on matters of faith and morals.  Yet the US Bishops clearly state in their November statement on this matter that 'people of good will may differ on how to apply just war norms in particular cases'.  In other words, we need to agree on the principles used to determine if a war (or potential war) is just or not, but we can legitimately differ in the application of norms to the particular situation.

This is the crux of the matter and what should be the center of discussion.  Matters such as opinion polls (70% of Americans favor using force against Saddam), movie stars (who are more anti-US/anti-Bush than anti-war), the French president's stance (which seems to be based highly upon the economic ties between France and Iraq (same for Germany) and the fact that both Germany and France have profited heavily off the sale of banned weapons to Iraq), or the signs at peace rallies (also more anti-US/anti-Bush than anti-war) may have a place in such discussions, but this is not the heart of the matter.  (Click here to read a discussion on these side issues and an analysis of Just War criteria to the current situation.)

So where do I stand on this matter?  To be honest, this is a tough one for me.  I never take lightly the opinion of Pope John Paul II.  Although the special gift of infallibility given to the Holy Father does not apply to this matter, John Paul II is a very wise man who lived in Poland during World War II and has experienced both the evils brought about by war as well as the destruction and injustice wrought by a mad-man out of control.  So I weigh heavily his opinion on this matter as well as what the US Bishops have stated.  On the other hand, I also see President Bush as an honest man who truly is seeking to do what is right.  And the Catechism states:

The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy [of war] belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.

Ultimately, as commander and chief of the US armed forces backed by recent congressional approval granting President Bush the power to go to war against Iraq, it is his decision on whether the US takes arms against Iraq or not.  So it his opinion on this matter that is of utmost importance (since with his simply "go" the war will begin). With the vast intelligence information at his hands, President Bush also knows (more than most others discussing this topic in public) what the details are for determining if the criteria of a just war or met or not. 

I am still struggling with this issue and will continue to develop what the proper stance (and or action) I should take is.  But, right now, I see as my priority and obligation to pray very hard for peace and that the Holy Spirit guides President Bush and other world leaders (including Saddam Hussein) so that this matter comes to the best conclusion possible.  I do hope that Saddam Hussein is taken out of power, that the horrible weapons of mass destruction that are well documented that Iraq has are destroyed, and that this matter is resolved (and not ignored) with the minimal amount of loss of life and property.  But I am also well aware of how the pacifism and appeasement used to try to control Hitler before World War II only poured fuel on a fire that was very costly to put out later.  So if the decision is made to go to war, I will support the troops and our president by praying for a quick end with a minimal loss of life.

For those truly interested in a scholarly article on this matter (which, by no means, is the intent of the my article), read "Moral Clarity in Time of War" by George Weigel, and "Just War: An Exchange" by Paul J. Griffiths.

Click here to read more on applying the principles to this matter and discussion of side issues in the news.