Can R.C. Priests be armed?

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ratio1 said:
Sorry I’m interested in fact as to whether priests in USA actually own guns?
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It’s my understanding that diocesan priests (as opposed to military chaplains or members of religious orders) are permitted to own guns. Some have them for hunting. Others have them for protection, but they tend to keep it on the downlow because some Catholics might get all in a tizzy about a priest having a gun.

I do not have a problem with priests owning guns as long as they behave like any normal, responsible gun owner: follow the laws, follow gun safety, and if necessary take a course in gun handling (probably not required if the guy grew up around guns, used them in a pre-priesthood military or police context, etc.)
 
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GLam1761 said:
From the example of the Cristero movement in Mexico in the 1920’s,

I think it wise to arm priests.
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Many of the Cristero priest martyrs chose to not be armed.
I respect their choice.
I also respect the choice of any priest who decided to fight.
I can see good arguments for both choices.
 
JamalChristophr said:
Father Kapaun and Father Capadano didn’t carry weapons. I think that says something.
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It is likely that they were prohibited from carrying them due to chaplains in US military being considered non-combatants and being forbidden to carry or handle weapons in training or combat.

It’s my understanding that usually there will be some assistant assigned to them to guard them with a weapon while they go about their non-combatant chaplain duties. This (the assistance part) is also international law under the Geneva Convention. I edited my original post because the way it was written it sounded like the US military rule forbidding chaplains from carrying arms applied to all countries, which as Fr. David pointed out, is not the case.

I know this has been the case since at least the late 70s. I’m not that knowledgeable about the rules in the days of Kapaun and Capodanno, but it seems highly likely the rule was the same and chaplains were non-combatants and not allowed to carry any weapons.
 
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Priests, reflecting the city of God and the state envisaged in a world without original are traditionally prohibited from exercising any power over life or death or holding any such secular authority.
While pacifism is not demanded of Catholicism in general it is required of Priests and Religious.
 
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Maximilian75 said:
They were bound by Geneva conventions concerning unarmed chaplains, though
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No such rule.

According the the Conventions, a chaplain may have a weapon for defensive purposes, or to defend those unable to defend themselves (such as the wounded); but not for offensive purposes.

For the U.S. military, it’s our own policy that prohibits chaplains from bearing arms.
 
Blue_Horizon said:
Priests, reflecting the city of God and the state envisaged in a world without original are traditionally prohibited from exercising any power over life or death or holding any such secular authority.
While pacifism is not demanded of Catholicism in general it is required of Priests and Religious.
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How would you define “pacifist”?

As for the word as I understand it, nothing requires a priest to be a pacifist; beyond the fact that we are all expected to love and desire “peace.”
 
Tis_Bearself said:
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JamalChristophr:
Father Kapaun and Father Capadano didn’t carry weapons. I think that says something.
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It is likely that they were prohibited from carrying them due to chaplains in US military being considered non-combatants and being forbidden to carry or handle weapons in training or combat. It’s my understanding that usually there will be some assistant assigned to them to guard them with a weapon while they go about their non-combatant chaplain duties. This is also international law under the Geneva Convention.

I know this has been the case since at least the late 70s. I’m not that knowledgeable about the rules in the days of Kapaun and Capodanno, but it seems highly likely the rule was the same and chaplains were non-combatants and not allowed to carry any weapons.
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That’s strictly U.S. policy (ie regulation and law). There’s no international rule against chaplains having weapons for defensive purposes.
 
Legally and morally, this is no different for a priest than it is for any law-abiding citizen. The use of deadly force has been addressed in a book by Massad Ayoob entitled “In the Gravest Extreme” - although this was directed at police officers and legally armed citizens. Clearly, no one wants to use deadly force, unless they are a killer. Some innocent civilians are forced into it at times. If blessed, we never encounter such a situation, but we have car and homeowner’s insurance, right?

i have carried armament since 1973 and never had to use it - for which I thank God. But, in my travels, many was the occasion when, as Hemingway wrote, I took “comfort in the checked wood grip.”
 
i don’t think there is any doubt that chaplains can carry defensive weapons for the purpose of protecting themselves & the personnel (wounded or not) they are ministering to
 
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Where can I get a holster for that…

At least one of our priests out here hunts birds and has a 12 gauge. Apparently being a priest didn’t help him out with pheasant season as he shot as many as I did over the season… 0.
 
lol

that is funny

pheasants are smart birds; they don’t like to be hunted & avoid it all costs

much like the coyote where i live

we have coyote hunting season; expert hunters have only managed to bag very few
 
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My grandpa never carried in Korea but trained and qualified on the m1and m1911 just in case something were to happen well he was in the field. Currently chaplains have been given some leeway as isis has put bounties on American chaplains.
 
FrDavid96 said:
That’s strictly U.S. policy (ie regulation and law). There’s no international rule against chaplains having weapons for defensive purposes.
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Yes, you’re correct, my post was unclear.
Geneva convention doesn’t forbid the civilian non-combatant priests from carrying arms - this is a US military rule only.
Geneva Convention provides that they will get assistance when carrying out their duties, which for US purposes means somebody who is armed goes with the chaplain and protects him. That’s what my sentence was referring to. I will make the post more clear.
 
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Once again, I like Father Capodanno, I think he should be a saint, but it is likely he did not have a personal choice about carrying a weapon. He may well have chosen not to carry one anyway but it’s a moot point if he wasn’t allowed by military regulations to do it - he didn’t have the choice.

He was clearly very heroic in running out under enemy fire where his protectors could not protect him, in order to help the wounded.
 
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