America and Foreign Intervention

[Inquiringperson]

What does the Catholic Church teach about America doing foreign intervention? Is it a matter of prudential judgement for political leaders?

 

[PaulfromIowa]

The Catholic Church might only exist today in a very, very different form if the US had not done some foreign intervention, as you put it, circa 1941-1945; and in a different form from 1946-1991.

 

[Formosus]

The Church follows what is known as the “Just war doctrine.” In short, recent Popes have viewed some of the current American engagements overseas (Iraq for instance) as contradictory to the just war doctrine due to the American use of “per-emptive war.”