Morality of weapons

[NickVA]

Where in the teachings of the Church could I find statements concerning the morality of certain weapons. Is such included in Aquinas’ Just War theory?

Weapons such as napalm bombs, flamethrowers, Chemical/ Biological agents, nukes etc ?

 

[LegoGE1947]

Where in the teachings of the Church could I find statements concerning the morality of certain weapons. Is such included in Aquinas’ Just War theory?

Weapons such as napalm bombs, flamethrowers, Chemical/ Biological agents, nukes etc ?

You could start with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraphs 2312 to 2329) Hope that is helpful.

 

[NickVA]

Thank You!

 

[George_Stegmeir]

Weaponry is neither moral or immoral. It is the people who design and use the weapons that are moral or immoral.
As someone once said:" Guns do not commit murder, people commit murder".
With respect to the weapons of war: In the modern world, one cannot afford to be a total pacifist unless one is willing to go to prison. In a future war with the Islamic world, it will be a “no holds barred” conflict ala WW I and WW II. Pacifists will be given a choice of either being hospital corpsmen (women) with combat units or going to a hard-time, maximum security prison for the duration…and this time there will be no going to Canada or Mexico because they will be involved themselves.
The reason for my pessimism? The aim of the Mullahs in Iran are not just protecting their positions against the corrosive influences of Western culture, They are dreaming of re-establishing the Persian Empire and converting all the Infidels, by force if necessary. It is one of the tenets of Islam, like it or not.

 

[LJH_80]

Weaponry is neither moral or immoral. It is the people who design and use the weapons that are moral or immoral.
As someone once said:" Guns do not commit murder, people commit murder".
With respect to the weapons of war: In the modern world, one cannot afford to be a total pacifist unless one is willing to go to prison. In a future war with the Islamic world, it will be a “no holds barred” conflict ala WW I and WW II. Pacifists will be given a choice of either being hospital corpsmen (women) with combat units or going to a hard-time, maximum security prison for the duration…and this time there will be no going to Canada or Mexico because they will be involved themselves.
The reason for my pessimism? The aim of the Mullahs in Iran are not just protecting their positions against the corrosive influences of Western culture, They are dreaming of re-establishing the Persian Empire and converting all the Infidels, by force if necessary. It is one of the tenets of Islam, like it or not.

I would offer another case simply on practicality (and I say this as current U.S. Army).
We can’t do our jobs without some people back here doing some very hard labor. You can be a pacifist by growing/packaging/shipping us food, or by caring for the children of those who are deployed.
Additionally, if the National Guard is deployed, many of those have day jobs as firefighters, policemen, paramedics, and other first responders. There may be positions available filling in some of those slots (as well as other vacated professions deemed necessary to keep the country functioning).
I’m not saying there will be a job for everyone who doesn’t want to fight, but very seriously there cannot be such thing as a 100% deployment, we need a large number of people back home to keep the country what it was.