Catholic stance on the CIA

[JayFifthmonth]

Hi everyone-

Hopefully I’ve posted this in the right forum.

For awhile now I’ve been prayerfully considering a career with the Central Intelligence Agency. In my opinion, the work they do is highly honorable and noble. In a world troubled by issues like terrorism, their work is more relevant than ever.

I was wondering if their was an official Church position on the CIA and their work. I can’t foresee a particular reason the Catholic Church should condemn the CIA, but I just want to be sure.

Thank you very much!

 

[Calgar]

Well, the CIA ,on occasion, topples governments.

What is the RC’s position on being involved in that kind of activity?

 

[fred_conty]

If you were one of my grand children, I would say think about something else.
You don’t know what they might have(make) you do. When you find out,
it might be a bit late or hard to say no. Join the navy and see the world.

 

[Hastrman]

Intelligence work is an ugly thing, though it’s also necessary, because it’s an ugly world.

But you must seriously consider that you may be called upon to betray decent people, to their deaths, in order to defend your country. I’m not even necessarily saying it’s wrong—it may be no different than shooting decent people to defend your country, and that happens all the time in war (in most wars, though one side is usually in the right or at least less wrong, their soldiers are pretty much the same). But, since it necessarily involves trust and the betrayal of trust, it’s not remotely as easy to handle psychologically.