Just war against abortion

[AussieCatholic]

I’ve often heard people on this forum oppose violence against abortion clinics, opting instead for prayer or civil action. If one firmly believes that abortion is murder then how can force not be justified? This systematic destruction of human life is clearly justification for war.

The targeting of info structure, and possibly personnel involved in abortion would be an act of self defense. How can we not exercise the legitimate force given to us by God to stop the mass extermination of human life?

Let us not forget that the holocaust was able to occur because the world ignored the situation, preferring a “peaceful” resolution. This hesitation resulted in the extermination of six million Jews, a number that pails in comparison to abortion statistics. In the end it was only by force of arms that this evil was stopped.

 

[dafalax]

My husband agrees with you, but i have some problems with the fine details. How are you going to wage this war? Are you going to blow up the clinics? Will there be people there? If so, you will blow up the pregnant women and kill the babies. If you only blow up the clinics, what happens when they start doing abortions in hospitals? I just don’t know how we’d fight it with violence, you know? But it is a crime that cries out to God. I wish there were something more i could do than pray.

 

[Atreyu]

I’ve often heard people on this forum oppose violence against abortion clinics, opting instead for prayer or civil action. If one firmly believes that abortion is murder then how can force not be justified? This systematic destruction of human life is clearly justification for war.

The targeting of info structure, and possibly personnel involved in abortion would be an act of self defense. How can we not exercise the legitimate force given to us by God to stop the mass extermination of human life?

Let us not forget that the holocaust was able to occur because the world ignored the situation, preferring a “peaceful” resolution. This hesitation resulted in the extermination of six million Jews, a number that pails in comparison to abortion statistics. In the end it was only by force of arms that this evil was stopped.

A war can only be just if there is absolutely no alternative. In the case of abortion, of course there are many other alternatives. Civil action and demonstration is the most sensible and probably efficacious course of action.

 

[AussieCatholic]

A war can only be just if there is absolutely no alternative. In the case of abortion, of course there are many other alternatives. Civil action and demonstration is the most sensible and probably efficacious course of action.

Not true. Heres what the CCC says…

2309 The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:

• the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
• all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
• there must be serious prospects of success;
• the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modem means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.

These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the “just war” doctrine.

The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.

It is painfully obvious that “civil action and demonstration” is neither practical nor effective. Over 45 million abortions are performed annually, current pro life methods are hardly “efficacious”

 

[Kevin42]

• the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
• all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
• there must be serious prospects of success;
• the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modem means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.

”

The first point would be fulfilled, but I have doubts that any of the other points are. All other means impractical or ineffective? There are still states who are actively seeking to ban abortion and people in the government who are against abortion. It has not yet been proven to be ineffective.

The real problem though is a serious prospect of success. A violent or armed “war” against abortion clinics would first harm our image, but more importantly, be crushed by the government. No success.

Plus, I don’t really think it would be acceptable with the last point either.

 

[StCsDavid]

Would you also kill the mother who visited the abortion clinic? She is just as active in killing the innocent life as the abortionist? Would you kill the taxi driver who drove the pregnant woman to abortion clinic? Would you kill the folks over at the Yellow Pages who sell advertising to the abortionist? Where do you draw the line?

Abortion is terribly evil, but so is contraception. Are we to wage war on the pharmacist who sells condoms and dispenses birth control pills?

Love is the only effective tool against evil. There will be losses and at times they may seem overwhelming, but love always wins. God is love. Trust Him with your prayers. Work for a conversion of heart. The abotionist is doing a diabolic thing; however, he is not beyond God’s mercy and forgiveness. So we must work, pray, and hope for his or her conversion, and trust Our Lord to take care of the innocent souls who spend no time on Earth, but an eternity with Christ in Heaven.

 

[porriwiggle]

Father James Morrow, the UK’s foremost pro-life activist has this hvh.all-catholic.net/leaflets/notshoot.html to say about killing abortionists.

The same can be said about bombing clinics, only more so because there is always the possibility of accidently killing the innocent we are supposed to be saving.

We are not going to win the war against abortion by violence, only by changing hearts and minds, which has to be done peacefully and prayerfully.

 

[Vincent]

It bears mentioning that, in terms of “Just War”,

The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church 2309)

Who has the responsibility for the common good? Not individual citizens.

 

[Catholig]

…

Abortion is terribly evil, but so is contraception. Are we to wage war on the pharmacist who sells condoms and dispenses birth control pills?

…

I still believe that we should boycott the major retailers who dispense birth control pills, ECs, condoms, etc. The pro-christian response last year showed just how effective our voices can be - we just need to apply that same spirit of protest to companies like Target, Walmart, CVS, or anyone else who sells birth control.

Catholig