Catholic View on Pacificsm?

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I have a friend here on campus who is a self proclaimed cafeteria catholic, which in a way I respect, he is very honest in his struggles. But he is a very adamant and passionate about non-violence. He is so strongly pacifist that he says he would not even fight with some one who was rapping his wife if that ever happened, God forbid. Which I feel like that is a very strong statement and doesn’t make much sense to me personally thats why I was wondering what the Catholic view on pacifism was? I was just wondering for my own purposes and study, thank you!
I think that`s a very noble way on his behalf,lots could not do that, because in there hearts they carry evil,like its there allowed weapon, for after they go to confession and receive forgiveness and feel redeemed.

God protects his faithfull, and not always those that spout about there pious ways whether discreet or not.

Hopefully such a situation will not occur,for only God could allow such to take place!

Blessings…
 
specifically, for example:

“War should belong to the tragic past, to history: it should find no place on humanity’s agenda for the future.”

JP2
 
an “eye for an eye” ideology is counter to everything Christ said and did…death penalty is unjust and you do realize that people can change right?

The “i’m better than you way of thinking” has gotten us nowhere it only causes wars, murders, racial tension, and a heavy heart. Continue to pray…God has worked wonders for me…and the violent thoughts I used to have have gone away. God Bless!
Though I am not a proponent of the death penalty, I can assure you, the death penalty is not unjust in itself. Know your faith. The Church does not now, nor has it ever, taught that the death penaty is wrong in all cases.
 
How does this fit into your own perspective GCDouglas?

How do you see this in the context of the comments of the last two Popes regarding war?
The last two popes have not declared war (no pun intended) to be wrong at all times. Quote to the contrary, actually as the just war doctrine is in the Catechism, published under JP2 and with a major role in its compilation by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Recent wars they have indicated were unjust (though not as an exercise of the ordinary or extraordinary magisterium, but as opinions), but it does not follow then that all wars are unjust.
 
specifically, for example:

“War should belong to the tragic past, to history: it should find no place on humanity’s agenda for the future.”

JP2
As well it should, but as long as there are states that would act as aggressors on other states and engage in atrocities, then war is an option that at times is justifiable and is not immoral.
 
The last two popes have not declared war (no pun intended) to be wrong at all times. Quote to the contrary, actually as the just war doctrine is in the Catechism, published under JP2 and with a major role in its compilation by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Recent wars they have indicated were unjust (though not as an exercise of the ordinary or extraordinary magisterium, but as opinions), but it does not follow then that all wars are unjust.
As I understand the catechism, it leaves the death penalty as an option of last resort, similarly war is only a viable option in very narrowly defined circumstances, wouldn’t you agree?
 
As I understand the catechism, it leaves the death penalty as an option of last resort, similarly war is only a viable option in very narrowly defined circumstances, wouldn’t you agree?
Yes I agree. But that is not what you were presenting. You were putting forth the idea that all war is intrinsically evil, and the same with the death penalty. This would put both in the same category as abortion, which is not the case. In fact a Catholic can be a very strong supporter of the death penalty, and still be a faithful Catholic.
 
Yes I agree. But that is not what you were presenting. You were putting forth the idea that all war is intrinsically evil, and the same with the death penalty. This would put both in the same category as abortion, which is not the case. In fact a Catholic can be a very strong supporter of the death penalty, and still be a faithful Catholic.
Was I? I thought I was asking a question, because I recognised someone with a slightly different perspective on the issue and I wanted to understand their reasoning a little better.
 
If you really believe what your saying…Then how bout you put your money where your mouth is. Why dont you open up a halfway house for rapist, and child molesters, and welcome them into your home? How bout Ted Bundy? Hes dead now. But even he stated, that society needed to be protected from people like him. He agreed his punishment was just. He knew he would kill again if ever released. No the death penalty is not unjust. We have in our possession now days. DNA, and we are better equipped to know if we have the right criminal or not. I dont undersand, why people like your self, side on the part of the perpetrator. That is not justice. that is sick. 😦 Last I checked, my bible said that God gives the secular Judges the sword for a reason. There is a big difference in what Jesus said about turning the other cheek, and tolerating rapist, murderers and child molesters. I think you should rethink your position. 🤷
sorry, but it seems that you have still held your Baptist position regarding this issue
scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2267.htm

Catechism of Catholic Church:2267 Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.
If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.

Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically non-existent."

Unfortunately, for you the prisons in this country can in fact hold murderers without a chance of them going on another rampage.

By the way the “sword” in scripture is the most misquoted verse in the whole Bible…he meant that we should have spiritual swords to fight their faith in the future (metaphorically)…not ACTUAL swords…this has been discussed multiple times on this board. Type: “Gun Control” in the search bar and you’ll see it mentioned tons of times.

I don’t see it as sick…I just like to stay pro-life in all times…I don’t pick and choose.

God Bless!
 
“Eye for an Eye” is replaced by turning the other cheek when one strikes you.

The Death penalty is not unjust, Christ did not condemn it. Christ was obedient to His very death which was on the Cross. God has explicitly commanded the death penalty on the basis of murder alone (see Genesis 9:6) and the death penalty has been supported by the Church throughout the ages.

People can change, yes. They can repent before their execution is due, this is why Priests are present for Last Rites. The murderer in question is still to be executed however, as in relation to Genesis 9:6.

God is also vengeful. (Hebrews 10:30).

As to Pacifism, the Church has in her past shown quite the contrary. See Just War.

God Bless,

Chris.
I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Genesis 9:6 means: not to inflict violence against charity to another human being…no where does it state that it means murder. Violence inflicted upon charity was referred to as “blood”.

John 8:7 “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”

O and yes Christ did condemn the Death Penalty:
  • Christ died on the cross to save sinners, not to condemn or punish them
  • Never taught his disciples to kill
  • The Scriptures that specifically sanction the death penalty are all part of the 613 laws of the Jewish Torah.
  • The keeping of these Laws was understood by the Jews to be the specific and the only way to be righteous in the eyes of God
  • The basic stance of the New Testament is that in fact the Law never enabled the Jews to become righteous, rather it only ended up pointing out their sinfulness
  • The basic Christian message is that grace, truth, salvation and righteousness come through Jesus Christ, not through the keeping of the Law
  • if we think keeping any part of the Law will make us righteous in God’s eyes, then we are thinking like Old Testament Jews and we must therefore keep every detail of the 613 laws, not just the laws we particularly agree with
you can read more here: ocawonder.com/2010/03/29/on-capital-punishment/

God Bless!
 
I have a bit of a pacifist streak, I would describe it that if I was drafted for war, I would choose to be a medic or something. I am not comfortable (to say the least) with the deliberate killing of another human being. I think, especially in war, that the opposing side can be as decent a human being as our side. Their government tells them to kill us, our government tells us to kill them.

.
I bolded the parts above that I would like to focus on. You mentioned Government twice in the above paragraph. It’s a shame that we have to listen to the government almost as if we are slaves to what they say and do. Perhaps your interested, but I choose to follow Christ as my lord and Saviour…the government doesn’t bind what I say and do.

I do know that my Lord has never told me to kill another human being…can I say the same about my government?
 
Though I am not a proponent of the death penalty, I can assure you, the death penalty is not unjust in itself. Know your faith. The Church does not now, nor has it ever, taught that the death penaty is wrong in all cases.
thanks for the swipe…ouch :(…I actually do know my faith, perhaps too much 🤷 God Bless!
 
Yes I agree. But that is not what you were presenting. You were putting forth the idea that all war is intrinsically evil, and the same with the death penalty. This would put both in the same category as abortion, which is not the case. In fact a Catholic can be a very strong supporter of the death penalty, and still be a faithful Catholic.
that’s what we call a contradiction…perhaps we could sub out death penalty and fill in abortion
 
I bolded the parts above that I would like to focus on. You mentioned Government twice in the above paragraph. It’s a shame that we have to listen to the government almost as if we are slaves to what they say and do. Perhaps your interested, but I choose to follow Christ as my lord and Saviour…the government doesn’t bind what I say and do.

I do know that my Lord has never told me to kill another human being…can I say the same about my government?
That’s really the point I was making. It doesn’t strike me as a valid reason to kill anyone.
 
I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Genesis 9:6 means: not to inflict violence against charity to another human being…no where does it state that it means murder. Violence inflicted upon charity was referred to as “blood”.
Genesis 9:6 clearly references the death penalty, don’t believe me then look at the Catechisms usage of the verse. It’s punishment for murder pure and simple.
=hxcCatholic413:
John 8:7 “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”
That’s in reference to judgement and eagerness.
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hxcCatholic413:
O and yes Christ did condemn the Death Penalty:
  • Christ died on the cross to save sinners, not to condemn or punish them I don’t see how this condemns the death penalty, care to elaborate?
  • Never taught his disciples to kill He told Peter to sell his cloak for a sword. Not to specifically kill, but it nullifies pacifism.
  • The Scriptures that specifically sanction the death penalty are all part of the 613 laws of the Jewish Torah. ***Explain Genesis 9:6 and its reference by the Catechism as to the death penalty. ***
  • The keeping of these Laws was understood by the Jews to be the specific and the only way to be righteous in the eyes of God Not sure how this condemns the death penalty.
  • The basic stance of the New Testament is that in fact the Law never enabled the Jews to become righteous, rather it only ended up pointing out their sinfulness Why are you asserting a self-righteousness to the death penalty? It has nothing to do with self-righteousness.
  • The basic Christian message is that grace, truth, salvation and righteousness come through Jesus Christ, not through the keeping of the Law And what of Christ fulfilling the law and not abolishing it? (Matthew 5:17-18)
  • if we think keeping any part of the Law will make us righteous in God’s eyes, then we are thinking like Old Testament Jews and we must therefore keep every detail of the 613 laws, not just the laws we particularly agree with Not sure where you get the idea that punishing one for their sin is to another self-righteousness, God after all commanded it, and was Christ self-righteous when He chased the money changers out of the temple? After all he did use a whip…
you can read more here: ocawonder.com/2010/03/29/on-capital-punishment/

God Bless!
You also have to contend with nearly 1,800 years or so with the content of the Church in using Capital Punishment. The Church saw it as okay, unless it erred then we have a problem with the Church.

God Bless,

Chris.
 
that’s what we call a contradiction…perhaps we could sub out death penalty and fill in abortion
Erroneous statement. Death penalty is the punishment of the guilty for the crime afflicted, ie murder. Abortion is ‘murder’ as it is killing without a cause, i.e a punishment for morality. The murderer is guilty for his crime and in light of Genesis 9:6 is to undergo punishment, the child is innocent.

God Bless,

Chris.
 
that’s what we call a contradiction…perhaps we could sub out death penalty and fill in abortion
It is not a contradiction. That is not my original thought. DO you know who said it? It is in a document written by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, when he was Cardinal Prefect of the CDF. I think I will take his word, no offense. Read the Catechism. Abortion is intrinsically evil. Capital punishment is allowed in certain circumstances. And this is coming from someone who is generally opposed to the application of the death penalty.
 
I have a friend here on campus who is a self proclaimed cafeteria catholic, which in a way I respect, he is very honest in his struggles. But he is a very adamant and passionate about non-violence. He is so strongly pacifist that he says he would not even fight with some one who was rapping his wife if that ever happened, God forbid. Which I feel like that is a very strong statement and doesn’t make much sense to me personally thats why I was wondering what the Catholic view on pacifism was? I was just wondering for my own purposes and study, thank you!
First College_Girl, I would like to congratulate you about your commitment to Chastity. I’m a recent college grad and I know how hard it is especially in the world we live in today to say yes to God in that way. Even for me being a Male it’s even harder to say yes to God, I’m always trying to get better. But when I see people my age trying to remain chaste, and especially if they are woman, I feel less isolated and my admiration for those that try grows. I hope I don’t seem to bold but I’d like to hear your story some time. Well any way back on topic. I think that someone who wouldn’t stand up and defend his wife who was getting raped is doing just what Adam did with Eve. Adam was suppose to do what a real man should and he just stood there and went with his wife. Not that a man should not take council from his wife but you get what I mean.
 
thanks for the posts concerning my question! I think this is just a case of some one starting out with a good idea (no violence) and then taking it a little too far. I don’t know if I would call my friend a coward… maybe just misguided? I’ve been looking for a time to talk to him about what the church says on this issue, but its so hard because he is so passionate about the issue! I think its so weird so I literally have no idea to approach him on the subject (we have a funny friendship, he thinks its absolutely insane I pray infront of the abortion clinic down the road three days a week).

Guess I’ll just have to keep educating myself on the issue and pray God can use me, is thats His will at all.
 
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