Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church has a long and complex history with war, rooted in the belief that peace is the desired outcome. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which outlines the Church's teachings, emphasizes the evils and injustices of war and the need to work towards its avoidance. The Church has not renounced the Just War Theory, which holds that war can be morally justifiable under specific conditions, but it has moved towards affirming the imperative of pursuing peace through non-violent means. This shift is influenced by the understanding that modern weapons, such as nuclear, chemical, and biological arms, can cause unprecedented harm to civilians, the environment, and non-military targets. While the Church recognizes the duty of nations to defend their citizens, it emphasizes that the use of force must meet rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy, with the ultimate goal of minimizing violence and prioritizing peaceful resolutions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic views on war | Just War Theory, Just War Doctrine |
| The Catholic Church's stance on war | The Church has not renounced the Just War Theory, but affirms that war is a path of no return and that disputes must be resolved by means other than war |
| The Church's view on peace | The Church is emphatically for peace for all people and has advocated for the prevention or cessation of war, supporting the long tradition of pacifism |
| The Catechism of the Catholic Church on war | The Catechism speaks of the possibility of legitimate defence by means of military force, which involves demonstrating that certain "rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy" have been met |
| Just War Doctrine | The strict conditions for legitimate defence by military force include that the damage inflicted by the aggressor must be lasting, grave, and certain, and that all other means of resolution must have been impractical or ineffective |
| Just War Theory | The use of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons cannot be justified even under the Just War Theory |
| The role of the state | The state has a responsibility to protect its citizens from war and its crimes, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity |
| Catholic philosophy | Catholic philosophy concedes to the state the full natural right of war, whether defensive or offensive, and the infliction of punishment |
| Catholic historical figures | Historical Catholic figures such as Pope Francis, Pope John Paul II, Godfrey of Bouillon, Raymond of Toulouse, and Richard the Lionheart have expressed anti-war sentiments or participated in just wars |
| Catholic views on violence | Catholics believe that non-violence is central to Jesus' message and that violent aggression can never be justified |
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What You'll Learn
- The Catholic Church has not renounced the Just War Theory
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of the possibility of legitimate defence
- The Catholic doctrine of war is rooted in defence
- The Catholic Church supports the long tradition of pacifism
- The Catholic Church teaches that the killing of unarmed civilians cannot be justified
The Catholic Church has not renounced the Just War Theory
The Catechism of the Catholic Church outlines the strict conditions that must be met for a war to be considered legitimate and just. Firstly, the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain. Secondly, all other peaceful means of resolving the conflict must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective. Thirdly, the use of force must be proportionate and unlikely to result in evils worse than the evil being combated. Finally, there must be a reasonable chance of success without resorting to disproportionate violence.
The Just War Theory has been criticised within the Catholic Church for weakening the Christian moral imperative to pursue nonviolent conflict resolution. Some argue that non-violence is central to Jesus' message and that it should be a central virtue in living out the Gospel. Pope Francis has also expressed his commitment to peace and his hope for an end to wars, stating that "we can no longer think of war as a solution".
Despite these pacifist sentiments, the Catholic Church maintains the Just War Theory, recognising that there may be rare and limited circumstances in which the use of military force is morally justifiable. The Church's position on war is informed by Catholic philosophy, which concedes to the state the full natural right to wage war, whether defensively against an attack, offensively to take the initiative in applying force, or punitively to inflict punishment for evil done against itself or others.
In conclusion, while the Catholic Church strongly emphasises peace and non-violence, it has not renounced the Just War Theory. The Church recognises that there may be rare and limited circumstances in which the use of military force is morally justifiable, provided that strict conditions of moral legitimacy are met.
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The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of the possibility of legitimate defence
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1992, speaks of the possibility of legitimate defence by means of military force. This is based on the premise that all citizens and governments are obliged to work towards the avoidance of war and recognise the evils and injustices that accompany it. While the Church has not renounced the Just War Theory, it emphasises that war is never inevitable and is always a defeat for humankind.
The Catechism acknowledges the obligation of nations to defend their people from attack and prevent unjust aggression, especially against the helpless. It highlights the importance of respecting the right to life and self-defence, distinguishing between lethal force used in moderation for self-preservation and the use of excessive violence, which is unlawful. This legitimate defence extends not only to individuals but also to those responsible for the lives of others.
The Catechism also addresses the role of the state in curbing harmful behaviour and safeguarding the common good. It recognises the right and duty of legitimate public authority to inflict punishment proportionate to the offence, with the primary aim of redressing the disorder and protecting public order. However, the Catechism has evolved over time, reflecting an increasing awareness of the dignity of the person, even after committing serious crimes.
Consequently, the Church, guided by the Gospel, now teaches that the death penalty is inadmissible as it violates the inviolability and dignity of the person. Pope Francis revised the Catechism in 2018 to reflect this stance, marking a shift from the traditional teaching that did not exclude recourse to capital punishment in certain circumstances.
While the Catechism acknowledges the possibility of legitimate defence, it underscores the imperative towards peace and the presumption that non-recourse to force is the preferred method of resolving disputes between nations, except in cases foreseen by the United Nations Charter and international law.
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The Catholic doctrine of war is rooted in defence
The Catholic Church has a long tradition of pacifism and is against war. Pope John Paul II has stated that "war is never inevitable, it is always a defeat for humankind". The Church, however, has not renounced the "just war theory", which was first laid out by Saint Augustine in his work "City of God". This theory recognizes that in a world afflicted by original sin, war is inevitable and that people are too sinful for it to be abolished.
The Church recognizes that a nation has not just the right but the obligation to ensure the security of its citizens. The obligation on states to defend their people from attack is a true obligation, as is the responsibility of the community of nations to prevent unjust aggression, especially against those who are helpless. The Church also recognizes the necessity of military action to protect the weak. For instance, in the Middle Ages, the Church authorized the creation of military orders to defend Christians against the depredations of the Islamic world.
In modern times, the dangers of war are greater than ever due to the development of new technologies and weapons of mass destruction, which have granted war an uncontrollable destructive power over great numbers of innocent civilians. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the use of atomic, biological, or chemical weapons, as well as the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants, are crimes against God and man.
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The Catholic Church supports the long tradition of pacifism
The Catholic Church has a long tradition of supporting pacifism, with Catholic peace traditions stemming from biblical and classical origins. The Church has consistently advocated for the prevention or cessation of war, with Pope John Paul II famously stating that "war is never inevitable, it is always a defeat for humankind".
While the Church has not renounced the "just war theory", it recognizes that non-violence is central to Jesus' message and the way he lived his life. Jesus teaches strict pacifism, as seen in the Bible verse, "Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt. 5:39). This teaching has been interpreted as a call to non-violent resistance and civil disobedience.
Throughout history, the Catholic Church has supported campaigns of non-violent resistance and civil resistance. For example, the Chilean Catholic Church backed civic action against authoritarian rule in Pinochet's Chile in the 1980s, and the Polish Catholic Church supported the Solidarity movement in Poland during the same decade. The Church has also been an outspoken critic of military dictatorships, such as the one in Brazil from 1964 to 1985.
In recent decades, the Church has become increasingly concerned about the development and use of weapons of mass destruction, which can cause unprecedented and indiscriminate damage to civilians, the environment, and non-military infrastructure. Pope Francis has articulated his hope for an end to wars, stating, "We can no longer think of war as a solution, because its risks will probably always be greater than its supposed benefits."
The Catholic Church's commitment to pacifism is reflected in its support for organizations such as Pax Christi, an international Catholic coalition that promotes and advocates for "the Peace of Christ". The Church's social teaching emphasizes peacemaking efforts and the pursuit of positive virtues such as love and justice as integral to achieving true peace.
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The Catholic Church teaches that the killing of unarmed civilians cannot be justified
The Catholic Church has a rich and complex history of thought on the ethics of war and peace, with a strong emphasis on the preservation of life and the avoidance of war. While the Church has not renounced the "just war theory", it has increasingly emphasised the importance of peace and non-violence.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, citing St. Thomas Aquinas, states that lethal force can be justified if one is left with no other choice. Killing should be a last resort, after all other options have been exhausted. The Catechism also makes it clear that killing a human being is always a grave issue and should never be taken lightly. The fundamental principle of morality is love and preservation of one's self.
The Church's position on self-defence and the use of lethal force is nuanced. While it acknowledges that self-defence is a right and, in some cases, a duty, it also teaches that the deliberate killing of an aggressor is only permitted when no other solution is possible. This is in line with the belief that non-violence is central to Jesus' message and how he lived his life.
In the context of war, the Church teaches that the killing of unarmed civilians cannot be justified. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "every act of war directed towards the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation" (CCC 2314). This is further emphasised by Pope Francis, who has expressed concern about the development and use of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, which can cause unprecedented and indiscriminate damage to civilians, non-military infrastructure, and the environment.
The Church's stance on protecting life is absolute, from conception to natural death. This belief extends to war and the use of lethal force, where the killing of unarmed civilians is considered a grave sin and a crime against God and humanity.
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