Being in the military

[lucky4075]

I really am in some need of guidance and advice here. I am currently an air force rotc cadet and I have started to ask myself a set of burning questions: Is being in the military not in good standing/accordance with my faith (Christianity)? Also, if I ever have to take life doing my job, will I be sent to hell?
I know the commandment says thou shalt not kill but I’ve also heard it really means thou shal not murder which is different than in war. I’ve been told many contradicting things from other people and priests, I guess I am looking for answers.

I feel as though a soldier shouldn’t be sent to hell for killing if its in the context of the thou shalt not murder law, but again I’ve heard so many different things.

Can anyone help me/ thank you very much

 

[Oneofthewomen]

My best advice to you is talk to the chaplain of your unit,
I am sure he can help you with these questions, as I am sure he hears them a lot!!

Peace be with you and thank you for your service!
I will pray for you!

 

[m134e5]

I really am in some need of guidance and advice here. I am currently an air force rotc cadet and I have started to ask myself a set of burning questions: Is being in the military not in good standing/accordance with my faith (Christianity)? Also, if I ever have to take life doing my job, will I be sent to hell?
I know the commandment says thou shalt not kill but I’ve also heard it really means thou shal not murder which is different than in war. I’ve been told many contradicting things from other people and priests, I guess I am looking for answers.

I feel as though a soldier shouldn’t be sent to hell for killing if its in the context of the thou shalt not murder law, but again I’ve heard so many different things.

Can anyone help me/ thank you very much

It is not a sin to be in the military (if it was, there wouldn’t be an archdiocese just for the United States military). A nation has the right to defend itself. If God wants you to do this with your life, you should do it. I’ve known good, faithful Catholics who love the Church- and who serve this country in the military. I’ve also known people who were in the military, discerned it wasn’t for them, and left after being honorably discharged.

 

[blackrobe]

For the short answer, see Catechism of the Catholic Church 2310. Sections 2302-2330 should answer most of your questions about military service.

AMDG
jsa

 

[PatriceA]

My best advice to you is talk to the chaplain of your unit,
I am sure he can help you with these questions, as I am sure he hears them a lot!!

Peace be with you and thank you for your service!
I will pray for you!

I would also suggest, OP, that you research the patron saint for the air force and pray to that saint for guidance and wisdom. I’m pretty sure there is a particular patron saint just for the air force, but if not I do know St. Maurice is the patron saint for the army and DH always wears a St. Maurice medal. He too struggled with these questions when he was an ROTC cadet, but a conversation with your priest should make things clear.

 

[GloriousOrder]

Remember that in the very pinnacle of the Holy Bible (the Gospels), it is recorded that a soldier should do his duty, and no more. As a reference, let me show you the teaching of that blessed man, Saint John the Baptist/Forerunner. Please open your Holy Bible and go to the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke: Chapter 3, Verse 14! Luke 3:14 chronicles the Baptist’s answer to soldiers who came up and asked him about doing violence.

From the Douay-Rheims Bible:
THE HOLY BIBLE:

And the soldiers also asked him, saying: ‘And what shall we do?’ And he said to them: ‘Do violence to no man, neither calumniate any man; and be content with your pay.’

This is proof that God wants men in the armed services to do their duty, but no more. Refrain from destroying innocent people and looting their lands during and after war (“do violence to no man” referring to pillaging). Do not calumniate (insult) or make up false stories about enemies you have conquered, for they are in your care. Most of all, do not spoil opposing camps or cities, for you will be payed by your own army in good time. The fact that the Baptist says “be content with your pay” means that the army cannot simply cease to exist!

Our Lord never contradicted this holy and wise teaching. I hope God blesses you for serving the Western cause of safety, security, order, and justice, my friend!

 

[lucky4075]

thank you all very much for the responses, I will start pondering over all of them since I feel much better. Thanks again!

 

[Lancer]

For Your Information…consideration:

1. CCC 2310:

2310 Public authorities, in this case, have the right and duty to impose on citizens the obligations necessary for national defense.
**Those who are sworn to serve their country in the armed forces are servants of the security and freedom of nations. If they carry out their duty honorably, they truly contribute to the common good of the nation and the maintenance of peace.**107

1. Venerable John Paul II The Great’s position/teaching on military service.
   
   ​

"The role of the sentinel, who scans the horizon to avert danger and promote justice and peace everywhere, befits each of you."
—** Pope John Paul II
**

                                         **"The military world, now as in the past, often appears as a vehicle  of evangelization and a privileged place for reaching the height of  holiness: I am thinking of the centurions of the Gospel, I am thinking  of the first martyred soldiers and all who throughout history, by their  serving their sovereign land, learned how to become soldiers and  witnesses of the one Lord, Jesus Christ."

**
** — Pope John Paul II **

                                                            [milarch.org/index/index](https://milarch.org/index/index)

3.Your bishop…The Military Archdiocese of USA. milarch.org/index/index
**Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., S.T.B., B.A.
**

https://milarch.org/pix/ArchbishopBroglio.jpgArchbishop Timothy P. Broglio was born in 1951 in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He attended St. Ann Elementary School, Cleveland Heights and St. Ignatius High School, Cleveland, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classics at Boston College, an S.T.B. in Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

Archbishop Broglio was ordained to the priesthood (for the Diocese of Cleveland) on 19 May 1977 in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception of the North American College, Rome.

From 1977 to 1979 he served as associate pastor, St. Margaret Mary Parish, South Euclid, and lectured in Theology at Notre Dame College, South Euclid. From 1979 to 1983 Archbishop Broglio attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.

From 1983 to 1987 the Archbishop served as Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. From 1987 to 1990 he served as Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Asunscion, Paraguay. From 1990 to 2001 Archbishop Broglio served as Chief of Cabinet for Angleo Cardinal Sodano, Secretary of State to His Holiness Pope John Paul II and desk officer for Central America.

In February 2001 the Archbishop was named Apostolic Nuncio to the Dominican Republic and Apostolic Delegate to Puerto Rico. The Archbishop was ordained as an Archbishop by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on 19 March 2001.

On 19 November 2007 Archbishop Broglio was named the fourth Archbishop of the Military Services, USA, and installed on 25 January 2008, the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

1. Military Saints: The Cause for… **Rev. Vincent Robert Capodanno, MM (Mary-knoll Missionary) who was killed in action serving with His Marines on the front lines in the Vietnam War.
   **

**(1929-1967)
Servant of God
Medal of Honor Recipient, Chaplain Corps, USNR **
file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MELFOR%7E1.JOH/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png Excerpt from a letter on Cause for Sainthood for Father Vincent

In closing, I would like to share with you part of a compelling email I just received from a woman suffering from cancer. She writes, “I made a trip to Staten Island and prayed on Fr. Vincent’s grave. The biopsy I had a few days later for possible recurrence of thyroid cancer showed that one previously identified mass was gone, and the second identified mass was actually a lymph node…I am SO very grateful to Father for interceding with the Lord on my behalf….Please pray that I am able to obtain what is necessary to bring attention to Father Vincent and glory to the mercy and power of God.”
And with that eloquent personal testimony, I thank you once again for all your kind encouragement as together we support this earthly project with its magnificent goal of beatification and canonization.
May Our Lord and His Servant Vincent Capodanno watch over you always.
Sincerely,
Mary E. Preece
Vice Postulator for Father Capodanno’s Cause
mpreece@milarch.org
202-719-3642
milarch.org/index/cause-updates

So the real question is not if its honorable to serve in the military services as a Catholic Christian…but rather…can you serve and live up to the high standards set by the bishop and other Catholics in uniform…past and present?

God’s blessings on your discernment.
Pax Christi

 

[magdalina]

I really am in some need of guidance and advice here. I am currently an air force rotc cadet and I have started to ask myself a set of burning questions: Is being in the military not in good standing/accordance with my faith (Christianity)? Also, if I ever have to take life doing my job, will I be sent to hell?
I know the commandment says thou shalt not kill but I’ve also heard it really means thou shal not murder which is different than in war. I’ve been told many contradicting things from other people and priests, I guess I am looking for answers.

I feel as though a soldier shouldn’t be sent to hell for killing if its in the context of the thou shalt not murder law, but again I’ve heard so many different things.

Can anyone help me/ thank you very much

As a cadet, you have not yet committed to active duty service in the US Air Force. Now is the time to decide on the exact type of work you wish to do in the service of the country. Remember, if you are a good student, the Air Force needs you more than you need them. Like anything else, you would do well to discern very carefully. Interview both enlisted personnel and officers. Recruiters have a job. Looking out for your best interests isn’t not part it.

The armed forces can train you for some of the most honorable professions. They can also train you for some of the most dishonorable. To invade a foreign country and initiate the use of deadly force against its citizens is not the same as repelling an invader. A conscript is not a volunteer.

The USA needs its armed forces to deter aggression and to provide for the common defense. Armed conflict is an ugly business. True heroes are already dead. The winners are the defense contractors who supply both sides. Modern wars are resolved in a smoke-filled conference rooms - before the first shot is fired.

Aim high, but don’t be a pigeon.

Maggie

 

[DebChris]

I read an article written by an Army chaplain that gave this answer for those in military service. We are all familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan who helped the man who had been waylaid by bandits. Imagine that instead of helping the man after he had been almost beaten to death, who arrived 20 minutes earlier, and were able to fight off his attackers.

Not every job in the military involves bearing arms. There are jobs in the medical field. Other jobs mean protecting supplies being brought to people in need. My husband was a chaplain’s assistant in Vietnam. Yes, he had to carry a weapon since part of his job meant protecting the chaplain. I also know what this job meant in terms of what he witnessed during the war, and how close he was to the front line.

You have to answer to your own conscience as to whether or not military life is right for you.

 

[zab]

I really am in some need of guidance and advice here. I am currently an air force rotc cadet and I have started to ask myself a set of burning questions: Is being in the military not in good standing/accordance with my faith (Christianity)? Also, if I ever have to take life doing my job, will I be sent to hell?
I know the commandment says thou shalt not kill but I’ve also heard it really means thou shal not murder which is different than in war. I’ve been told many contradicting things from other people and priests, I guess I am looking for answers.

I feel as though a soldier shouldn’t be sent to hell for killing if its in the context of the thou shalt not murder law, but again I’ve heard so many different things.

Can anyone help me/ thank you very much

I would be afraid and ashamed of the guy or gal serving our country who is not concerned about the things that you are concerned about. We need good people serving our country whether it be in the military or in professions such as police officers at home. People need to be protected from those who seek to harm others even if at times that may require one to take the life of another. We do not need or want military personel who mistreat their captives and seek to harm innocent civilians. We need good people serving our country. It is a good and noble thing to serve one’s country for the good of it’s citizen’s.

 

[The_Old_Medic]

The real issue for you is: Are you willing to repay all of the funding you have received for your education, etc? If you are willing to repay 100% of the benefits you have gained from ROTC, then I would say you are sincere about your conviction. If you are not, then I would seriously question your motives.

You can not have it both ways. You can not choose to benefit from the Military, and then once you are about ready to have to pay for those benefits through service, suddenly develop the idea that you can not serve for. That would not be honorable, nor would it be just.

I have seen a number of ROTC Cadets do this over the years. I have also seen them sued by the government, and forced to repay every cent, plus interest, on what they got from ROTC…

There is absolutely nothing about serving in the Military that is prohibited by any teachings of the Church. In combat, one does not murder (the correct translation of that commandment is"Thou Shalt Not Murder").

I personally served for 10 years on active duty with the US Army. At no time did my duties conflict in any way with my faith.

 

[armywife]

I really don’t mean any offense, but in the Air Force, the likelihood that you could take a life in war is…well…not very likely.

 

[kmbeck]

In the military you have the duty to disobey unlawful orders. Killing innocents would be an unlawful order. As long as you are doing your duty to the country you shouldn’t ever come into a situation that would send your soul to Hell. Ignore what ArmyWife said, that’s Army vs. Air Force rivalry. You could be an A-10 pilot and provide close air support to ground troops. Also you could be a bomber pilot and take lives. Sometime in the future fighter pilots may again need to take lives. If you’re high speed there are special operations officers that could have to take a life. If you do any of these things you will be taking lives in defense of our country. If this bothers you, become a logistics or civil engineering officer.

 

[FirstCalled]

Like you said, there’s many different things said by different people. I could never join the military because that is not what Jesus would have done. He was willingly crucified instead of fighting. Also, I think that if I killed another, that was someone’s brother, someone’s cousin, someone’s son, someone’s friend, someone’s lover. They are like us. All human.

 

[Gloria1]

In my opinion, it is the duty of a good Christian to defend his or her country. It is your duty as a good Christian to protect your brothers and sisters from the enemy. The enemy comes in several different forms. A terrorist with a bomb ready to strike and kill innocent people is an enemy and there is nothing wrong in defending your country against such people. Terrorists are not friends. they are enemies and there is nothing wrong in destroying the enemy. There is nothing wrong in joining the army and taking part in war if it is for a just cause.

 

[Vince1022]

In my opinion, it is the duty of a good Christian to defend his or her country. It is your duty as a good Christian to protect your brothers and sisters from the enemy. The enemy comes in several different forms. A terrorist with a bomb ready to strike and kill innocent people is an enemy and there is nothing wrong in defending your country against such people. Terrorists are not friends. they are enemies and there is nothing wrong in destroying the enemy. There is nothing wrong in joining the army and taking part in war if it is for a just cause.

That’s your opinion, ok, not Catholic Church teaching. The problem is that once one is in the Armed Forces, one does not have the individual liberty to choose to participate in a given ordered action, whether or not it coheres with Catholic just war criteria. The Catholic Church nowhere teaches that defending one’s country is a duty. The Catholic Church promotes the dignity and respect of all human life, as created by God.

Where does the Catholic Church teach that destroying people is ok?

I wrestled with this question myself, as I served in the Navy for 5+ years. With a clear conscience, but then again this was during a time the U.S. was not involved in active military actions.

 

[PatriceA]

Like you said, there’s many different things said by different people. I could never join the military because that is not what Jesus would have done. He was willingly crucified instead of fighting. Also, I think that if I killed another, that was someone’s brother, someone’s cousin, someone’s son, someone’s friend, someone’s lover. They are like us. All human.

You’ve missed the point though that people that join the military are willing to sacrifice their lives for the love of innocent people. Its very much like what Jesus did. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for the love of another. I don’t know too many people that are willing to sacrifice all that military people are willing to do to secure the safety of innocent people that they may never have even met. My husband was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan to help make the lives of the people in those two countries better than what they had before. His job is to help those people become independent from the dictator type governments that were in place. His job was and still is to build roads and energy sources and schools for girls where there never was any before. He is willing to put his life on the line in dangerous areas to help people he may never meet in his life time. If that doesn’t meet the definition of what a Catholic would do for someone’s brother, someone’s cousin, someone’s son, someone’s friend, someone’s lover, what does?

 

[FirstCalled]

Jesus laid down his life for love. But he did so without the sword, and he explicitly stated to do so without the sword. “He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.”

 

[PatriceA]

Jesus laid down his life for love. But he did so without the sword, and he explicitly stated to do so without the sword. “He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.”

And military people put their lives on the line EVERY single day for the love of their fellow man. Not every single person in the military is combat. That’s not my husband’s job description. The military is much more than “living by the sword.” I take it you would never be a policeman either.