Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church does not have a definitive teaching on gun control, but it does allow people to be pacifists, rejecting any weapon that can harm others. The Church's magisterium has not made any pronouncements on ordinary people possessing firearms for self-defence, but the general ethos at the Holy See and among US bishops seems to favour handgun restriction. The USCCB supports measures that control the sale and use of firearms, and 83% of US Catholic readers surveyed think gun control legislation should be stricter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic teaching on gun ownership | There is nothing in Catholic teaching that says it is wrong to own a gun or even a semi-automatic weapon. |
| Catholic teaching on the use of guns | Catholic teaching indicates that people have the right, even the obligation, to defend themselves and their loved ones, even when killing someone is the result. |
| Catholic teaching on war | Catholicism continues to teach that war can be justifiable. |
| Catholic Church's stance on assault weapons | The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has consistently favored a total ban on assault weapons, better control of firearm sales, and limited access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition holders. |
| Catholic Church's stance on handguns | The US Conference of Catholic Bishops believes that handguns should be eliminated from society, except for police officers and military use. |
| Catholic Church's stance on gun control | The Catholic Church supports reasonable gun control measures, recognizing that the availability of firearms can turn an argument into a deadly tragedy. |
| Catholic Church's stance on gun violence | The Catholic Church acknowledges the increasing problem of gun violence and encourages prayer and sacrifice for healing and an end to shootings. |
| Catholic Church's stance on domestic violence | The Catholic Church has declared that violence against women, inside or outside the home, is never justified and that all forms of violence are immoral. |
| Catholic readers' views on gun ownership | 86% of 1,388 US Catholic readers surveyed either own a gun or know someone who does. 32% have a gun primarily for hunting, 32% for protection, 18% for fun, and 18% for other reasons. |
| Catholic readers' views on gun control | 83% of US Catholic readers surveyed think gun control legislation should be stricter, and 60% are willing to give up their right to own a gun. |
| Catholic readers' views on the Second Amendment | Some Catholic readers are adamant about their Second Amendment right to bear arms, while others think a reevaluation of gun control legislation is needed. |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic Church teachings on gun control
The Catholic Church does not have definitive teachings on gun control. However, it does provide some principles to guide Catholics in considering or voting on gun control policies. The Church supports the right of individual self-defence, including the use of lethal force when necessary, and this may include the use of firearms. The Church also fully endorses pacifism, as exemplified by Jesus, who forgave those who crucified him.
While the Church has not made pronouncements on ordinary people possessing firearms for self-defence, the general ethos at the Holy See and among US bishops seems to favour handgun restriction. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has consistently favoured a total ban on assault weapons, better control of firearm sales, and limited access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition. They noted that handguns should eventually be eliminated from society, except for police and military use.
Catholics are encouraged to use their prudential judgement when voting on gun policies, considering evidence on the effectiveness of different gun control measures in ensuring community safety. The Church's position on gun control allows for a lot of middle ground, and Catholics can hold a range of views without violating its teachings.
The Church's teachings on gun control are influenced by its principles of nonviolence and respect for human life. It recognises the obligation to defend oneself and others, even if it results in killing someone. Additionally, the Church acknowledges the role of firearms in hunting, as part of man's "governingship or stewardship over creation."
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Catholic views on self-defence
While the Vatican website does not yield any results for handguns, there are a handful of references to firearms. These include the fact that firearms are not allowed in the Vatican museums and that the Holy See is concerned about illicit trafficking in firearms. The only statement from a body connected with the Holy See is found in The International Arms Trade: An Ethical Reflection, a 1994 document by the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace (PCJP).
There is no definitive Catholic Church teaching on the matter of gun ownership, and believers fall on both sides of the issue. While the Church magisterium has not made any pronouncements regarding ordinary people possessing firearms for self-defence purposes, the general ethos at the Holy See and among U.S. bishops seems to favour handgun restriction. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has consistently favoured a total ban on assault weapons, better control of firearm sales, and limited access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition holders.
The Catholic Church fully endorses and allows people to be pacifists, rejecting any weapon or means of bringing harm to others, as Jesus was. However, the Church has taught that it is morally good to defend yourself against a physical attacker. This is based on the belief that everyone has the right to defend their life and bodily integrity against the attacks of an unjust aggressor, and to employ whatever force is necessary, even taking the life of an assailant if necessary. Nevertheless, no more injury may be inflicted on the assailant than is required to stop them.
The defence of one's property is also considered lawful, even at the expense of the aggressor's life. However, the property being defended must be of considerable value, as charity forbids taking a life to protect trivial possessions. In the case of theft, the thief may be killed during the act of stealing if the stolen goods cannot be recovered by other means. If the thief has already escaped with the goods, it would not be lawful to kill them to recover the possessions.
While the Church's teachings on self-defence allow for the use of lethal force, they do not specifically address the use of handguns or other firearms. The decision to own and use a handgun for self-defence is left to the individual Catholic's interpretation of the Church's teachings and their own conscience.
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Catholic bishops' stance on gun control
While there is no definitive Church teaching on the matter, the Catholic Church and its bishops have expressed their views on gun control and ownership. The Church fully endorses pacifism and rejects any weapon or means of bringing harm to others, as Jesus did. The Church's universal magisterium, exercised by the pope or the worldwide college of bishops, has not made any pronouncements on the ownership of firearms by ordinary people. However, the general ethos at the Holy See and among the US bishops seems to favour handgun restriction.
In response to mass shootings, Pope Francis and the US Catholic bishops have called for gun control measures to save lives. They have urged dialogue and concrete action that addresses various aspects of the crisis, including mental health, family dynamics, the value of life, the influence of media, and the availability of firearms. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has consistently favoured a total ban on assault weapons, better control of firearm sales, and limited access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition. They have also supported specific legislation, such as the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 and the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021, to improve background check processes and protect individuals at extreme risk.
The US bishops' conference has recommended regulations and limitations on handgun purchases and measures to make guns safer, such as locks to prevent unauthorised use. They supported the Assault Weapons Ban initially passed in 1994 but later expired in 2004. They have also called for a more appropriate minimum age for gun ownership and the banning of "bump stocks". The bishops' statements reflect their concern for ending violence and promoting a culture of life, as seen in their 2002 statement against domestic violence and their formation of a Special Task Force to Promote Peace in response to the violence in 2016.
While the Church supports the right of individual self-defence, including the use of lethal force when necessary, it does not specify the means by which this may be carried out. It is left to the individual's discretion, and if a gun is the best available means of defence, it may be used. The Church's stance on gun control is not widely known, and bishops rarely discuss it publicly. This may be due to a fear of upsetting the faithful or causing division among Catholics, who hold diverse opinions on the issue.
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Catholic gun ownership statistics
While the Catholic Church does not expressly forbid the use of firearms, it does promote pacifism and peacebuilding. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow". The Church also recognises "man's stewardship over creation", which includes hunting animals for food.
There is no definitive Catholic Church teaching on gun ownership, and believers fall on both sides of the issue. While the Church has not made any pronouncements regarding ordinary people possessing firearms for self-defence purposes, the general ethos at the Holy See and among U.S. bishops seems to favour handgun restriction. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has consistently favoured a total ban on assault weapons, better control of firearm sales, and limited access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition.
A survey of 1,388 U.S. Catholic readers found that 86% either own a gun or know someone who does. 32% of those who own a gun or know someone who owns one have it primarily for hunting. 83% of those surveyed think gun control legislation should be stricter, and 60% said they would be willing to give up their right to own a gun.
Despite these sentiments, only 21% of those surveyed have spoken up about gun control at their parish, and only 9% have seen organising around gun control at their church. This disconnect may be due to a lack of clear guidance from the Church on this issue. While the Church has issued statements on gun violence and the need to work for peace, it has not engaged its collective, particular magisterium on the question of gun control.
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Catholic perspectives on the right to bear arms
While there is no definitive Catholic Church teaching on the matter, there are a variety of Catholic perspectives on the right to bear arms. Some Catholics believe that the right to bear arms is not God-given, but rather a modern novelty. They argue that the language of rights is absent in Scripture, the broader Christian tradition, and the Church's magisterial statements since 1948. The Catholic Church fully endorses pacifism, and Jesus himself forgave those who crucified him, setting an example of rejecting any weapon or means of harming others.
On the other hand, some Catholics cite the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus tells the disciples, "Let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one" (Luke 22:36), as evidence of the legitimacy of the right to self-defense. The Catechism of the Catholic Church acknowledges the right to use lethal force in self-defense, including on behalf of others, when it is not practical to use less force. The Second Amendment, adopted in 1791, justified the existence of civilian militias to defend certain inalienable rights, including the right to life and self-defense, which has been interpreted as justifying the right to own guns.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has consistently favored stricter gun control measures, including a total ban on assault weapons, better control of firearm sales, and limited access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition. They believe that, with few exceptions, handguns should eventually be eliminated from society. The Holy See has expressed concern about illicit trafficking in firearms, and the Church supports measures to control the sale and use of firearms to prevent their unsupervised use by unauthorized individuals.
Public opinion in the United States has shifted over time, with a decrease in the percentage of people who believe that laws on the sale of firearms should be made stricter. While there is no clear consensus among Catholics on the right to bear arms, the Church's magisterium seems to favor handgun restriction, and the Church teaches that not everyone should be allowed to have a gun, especially those who may misuse them to harm others.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic teaching does not forbid owning a handgun or semi-automatic weapon. However, it emphasizes the nonviolence of Jesus' message, which calls for loving enemies and turning the other cheek. Catholic teaching also supports self-defence and justifiable wars.
Catholics are divided on the issue of gun control. While 83% of U.S. Catholic readers surveyed believe that gun control legislation should be stricter, 60% are willing to give up their right to own a gun. Some Catholics prioritize self-defence and the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
The Catholic Church has expressed concern about gun violence and supports reasonable gun control measures. The Church has urged policy changes and legislative actions to address the endemic of violence and promote a culture of life.
A survey of 1,388 U.S. Catholic readers found that 86% either own a gun or know someone who does. 32% own guns for protection, 18% for fun, and 32% for hunting or a combination of reasons.
