What do roman Catholics think of war?

Answer 1

In Catholic Moral Theology, war is addressed and condemned as an immoral activity save for the singular exception of a just war. It outlines the principles that a nation or social body must observe and exhaust before war can be engaged as a means of self-preservation. The difficulty lies in the discernment of how these principles are practically applied, as nations or social groups may disguise their true intentions in order to appear in the right. A nation or leader that falsifies their claims may be recognized as just until years later when condemning facts come to light. For this reason the Church is loathe to sanction any war, since the reasons and intent of the conflicting parties are very difficult to discern. However, by the same token, the Church does not sanction complete pacifism on a national level, since it is not the leader's right to sacrifice the lives in his/her care, thus if the nation must fight to avoid annihilation, the government is obliged to defend those in its care.

Answer

The position of the Church on war has always been the subject of much and often heated debate. Obviously some people feel that the Church should fill in what they perceive to be gaps in Scripture and even in His own time many expected Jesus to free them from Roman occupation. But it seems that Jesus made a point of avoiding any interference with the State and it seems that the reason is as follows:

"They asked him, 'Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?' But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 'Show me a coin. Whose likeness and inscription has it?' They said, 'Caesars' He said to them, 'Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are Gods.' (Luke Ch 20)

The things that are Caesar's: It is clear that when God gave us dominion over Creation we are entitled to organise and control access to it for our benefit. And, even though Scripture deals comprehensively with individual responsibility, it scrupulously avoids the area of state, corporate and community responsibility even in relation to the Law of Moses except to say that power in this area comes directly from God. Pilate said to Jesus: "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin."(John Ch 19). The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?" ……. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." ... But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest…" (John Ch 8).

The things that are God's: God said "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." "…God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Genesis Ch 1). "Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." (Psalm 100) Scripture therefore makes clear that from the beginning God retained ownership rights in respect of human beings for Himself alone. It follows that it is contrary to God's Law to appropriate to ourselves ownership rights in respect of human beings or the process through which human beings are made or to deny that God made us male and female.

pope Gregory ii

Answer 2

Catholics believe, with the late Pope John Paul II, that "war is always a tragedy." Catholics believe that wars can be gravely immoral. For example, campaigns of violence by private individuals or groups, or national pre-emptive wars, wars waged against civilian populations, and wars of retaliation with little hope of decisive victory are nearly always gravely immoral. There are, however, instances in which going to war is morally permissible. An example would be that of a nation that has been unjustly attacked by the agression of another, where the defending nation has good reason to believe that the prosecution of war may restore a just peace. These reasons for going to war would fit the criteria of a "just war."

Answer 3

Catholics are in favor of just wars, that is a war with a good reason such as defense or justice and there is no other option that would accomplish the goal. Other than that, Catholics do not like war.