Should Catholics go to war?

[Marilena]

I don’t know where this thread goes, but please, accept my apologies if it does not belong here.

Question;

Should a Catholic go to war? Should we not participate because God says “thou shalt not kill”? Should we be conscientious objectors?
Is it our duty to go to war if our country does? ( Catholic soldiers)
I hope I asked this correctly. Should Catholic men and women refrain from entering military service on the off chance that we might end up in a war where we might have to kill someone? God says life is sacred, so considering that, should we just be conscientious objectors instead?

 

[Della]

There is a difference between committing deliberate murder (desiring the death of another and doing it) and having to defend one’s family, country or self against a violent aggressor. One must never want the deaths of others, but it is permissible to use necessary force to keep one’s family, country and self safe.
If the death of another is absolutely necessary for defense then it is not a sin if that happens when defending against an aggressor.

This is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says about what constitutes a just war:

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.

 

[paramedicgirl]

The flip side of the fourth commandment also bids us to protect and honour our country, I guess that’s why the military is OK for Catholics.

 

[carol_marie]

The purpose of our military is to serve & protect our country… very similar to the purpose of our police force. Often times our police officers have to use force to protect us & themselves - sometimes this force is deadly… and yet we don’t question whether it’s appropriate for a Catholic to be a police officer. I don’t see the job of the military as being all that different.

May God Bless ALL of those who protect us.
CM

 

[BlestOne]

As a Catholic that has served in the military, and as a Catholic whose pastor is currently in the reserves…the answer is yes you can serve in the military! What is God calling you to do? That is the more important question. As Della posted, there are just wars defined in the CCC and this is where our guidelines come from. Many people think that the Iraq War was deemed unjust by our beloved late Pope JPII. Infact, he did not say that it was an unjust war, what he did say is that he was concerned that innocent people would be slaughtered if we were involved in a war with Iraq. After the war began, he also came out and said it would be wrong of us to leave before we accomplished what we set out to accomplish, freeing the Iraqi people. I know many Catholics that are serving our country, they are not compromising their souls, they are helping our fellow humans which Christ calls all of us to do. Also, the actual Hebrew translation for the 5th commandment is thou shalt not murder…not kill. It was mis-interpreted. There are times when we must defend ourselves or others with lethal force. It is not considered wrong. Killing and murdering I am sure you will agree is totally different. Murder is defined as the killing of innocent lives, which we are taking great pains to make sure doesn’t happen.

 

[Fitz]

Yes, I think it is a high calling to serve in the military. You put your life on the line for a greater cause. I think it is valid to be a conscientous objector if you feel that in your heart, however I am so proud of the people that do serve in the millitary and I know of more good they do than bad. I think our MSM would like to only offer up the bad for you to read. They are betraying our military when they do that and they are betraying all of us too.

 

[Marilena]

Fitz:

Yes, I think it is a high calling to serve in the military. You put your life on the line for a greater cause. I think it is valid to be a conscientous objector if you feel that in your heart, however I am so proud of the people that do serve in the millitary and I know of more good they do than bad. I think our MSM would like to only offer up the bad for you to read. They are betraying our military when they do that and they are betraying all of us too.

What is MSM?

 

[Fitz]

Marilena:

What is MSM?

Main stream media- ABC,CBS,NBC,CNN - the alphabet news lite. They lean to the left always, and they tend to be negative about the US for sure. I go to blogs, FOX (attempts at least to give more sides of an issue, although I know I will get some complaints on this opinion), and to talk shows. I like Laura Ingraham, Michael Medved, Rush, Hannnity, and O’Reilly Factor. I know that will offend many, but I like to know more that just the slant I am given in the MSM.

Just so we stay on topic, I will add that those that believe that war is wrong in all cases might be very pure in their thought. However, I don’t think it is the right way to be either. I would protect my family from harm, much like a mother bear would protect her cubs. I think protecting peope is not wrong.

 

[Eileen_T]

My son has decided that if he has to go to war (he’s 22) he doesn’t want to have to kill anyone. He said that he would volunteer as a stretcher bearer to recovered the wounded who were under fire.

He has thought about this in depth as at one time his goal was to joined the Armed Forces. (He would use necessary force to defend his life or that of others.)

 

[wcknight]

I think it depends on the war. I have no problem defending this country against a threat foreign or domestic. I do have a problem with starting a war for purely economic or personal bias.

I think this Iraq war was started for oil and as a personal vendetta by GWB.

I consider the military to be a very honorable profession. I would not join but if required to serve I would do so as well as I could if required. Personally I think all citizens should be required to serve 2 years, simply as a requirement of citizenship. The service could be military or non-military (maybe there could be incentives to join the military - say serve two year versus 3, or double pay or something similar)

The cost of freedom should be borne by all, and those who have to risk more should be rewarded more.

 

[Black_Jaque]

Should a Catholic go to war? Should we not participate because God says “thou shalt not kill”? Should we be conscientious objectors?
Is it our duty to go to war if our country does? ( Catholic soldiers)
I hope I asked this correctly. Should Catholic men and women refrain from entering military service on the off chance that we might end up in a war where we might have to kill someone? God says life is sacred, so considering that, should we just be conscientious objectors instead?

Hmm if you’re thinking Christianity might be pacifist, why does the Pope have the Swiss Guard - those aren’t plastic battle-axes they carry, and I’ll bet they carry more than axes when they see the need.

What’s good enough for the Pope is good enough for me.