Catholic Trends
March Catholic Trends

The issue of a possible U.S. military intervention in Iraq has elicited a wide variety of senti-ments, reactions and opinions worldwide.

Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a statement on February 26 in which he called for "renewed prayer, continued moral reflection, and active and faithful citizenship" for Americans.

The United States bishops have no illusions about the behavior or intentions of the Iraqi govern-ment. They fully recognize the dangers that have been posed. They are renewing their "calls for the Iraqi leadership to abandon its efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction, and to meet its obligations to destroy such weapons."

He said that the bishops are in union with Pope John PaulII in the conviction that war is not "inevitable" and that "war is always a defeat for humanity." They also "join with Pope John Paul II in insisting that Iraq make ‘concrete commitments’ to meet the legitimate demands of the international community and to avoid war. The Iraqi regime has to recognize that it has not to date responded adequately to these demands and that it must act immediately and effectively to meet them, both to avoid armed conflict and to prove that it intends to change its ways."

The February 26 statement morally questions the legitimacy of any preemptive, unilateral use of military force to overthrow the government of Iraq. "To permit preemptive or preventive uses of military force to overthrow threatening or hostile regimes would create deeply troubling moral and legal precedents." These statements are based on the facts that are known. There is not as yet clear or adequate evidence of Iraq’s involvement in the terrorist attacks of September 11 nor is there "evidence of an imminent attack of a grave nature". The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is in agreement with the Holy See and other religious leaders throughout the world that a resort to war would not be in agreement with the conditions that Catholic teaching for the use of military force requires.

Many of the conflicting opinions about justified action in this situation involve the application of "just war norms." Were the Bush administration’s proposals to expand dramatically, traditional limits on just cause to include preventive uses of military force to overthrow threatening regimes or to deal with weapons of mass destruction would create troubling moral and legal precedents. Moreover, consistent with the proscriptions contained in international law, a distinction should be made between efforts to change unacceptable behavior of a government and efforts to end that government’s existence. The Catechism of the Catholic Church limits just cause to cases in which "the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations is lasting, grave and certain." (CCC #2309) So far there is no proof of Iraq’s involvement in the attacks of September 11. Cardinal Sodano, from the Secretary of State in the Vatican, has advanced a radical new argument which goes beyond the scope of the Church’s "just war" teaching. He said: "It is not only a matter of knowing if this war would be just or unjust, moral or immoral. We want to raise the question: Is warfare worthwhile?"

The statement from the USCCB makes the judgment that any resort to military force or war should have broad international support and if such a decision is made then the moral and legal constraints on the conduct of war must be observed. Bishop Gregory said that "this is expected of every civilized nation. It surely is expected of ours. We are threatened by regimes and terrorists who ignore traditional norms governing the use of force; all the more reason that we must uphold and reinforce them through our own actions. Any implied or express threats to defend against Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction by using our own weapons of mass destruction would be clearly unjustified. The use of anti-personnel landmines, cluster bombs and other weapons that cannot distinguish between soldiers and civilians, or between times of war and times of peace, should also be avoided. In all actions in war, including assessments of whether ‘collateral damage’ is proportionate, we must value the lives and livelihood of Iraqi civilians as we would the lives and livelihood of our own families and our own citizens."

The statement also addresses the fact that in the case of armed conflict, there will be implications and an aftermath which we must be prepared for. Here Bishop Gregory sited examples of the already suffering Iraqi population. He also said that: "A post-war Iraq would require a long-term commitment to reconstruction, humanitarian and refugee assistance, and establishment of a stable, democratic government at a time when the U.S. federal budget is overwhelmed by increased defense spending and the costs of war."

Bishop Gregory clearly says: "there are no easy answers. People of good will may differ on how traditional norms apply in this situation. The gravity of the threat and whether force would be preemptive are matters of debate, as are the potential consequences of using or failing to use military force. [He urges] Catholics, to think deeply about the choices we face, to review carefully the teaching of our Church and to speak out strongly in accord with their conscience. Our hearts and prayers go out especially to those who may bear the burden of these terrible choices – the men and women of our armed forces and their families, the people of Iraq, and the leaders of our nation and world who face momentous decisions of life and death, of war and peace."

Become pro-active!

Call President Bush (202) 456-1414. Urge him to work the United Nations. Call Members of Congress - Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 and ask them to convey the same message to the President.

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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops urges the President of the United States to "step back from the brink of war" and to pursue diplomatic means and inspections.

Military intervention has the potential to lead to tremendous human costs.

New Ulm Diocesan Council of Catholic Women echoes the Bishops’ call that constructive alternatives to war must be encouraged and that effective alternatives such as those outlined by the USCCB be pursued.

NUDCCW will continue to pray for the President, all world leaders, armed forces, and the suffering in Iraq and support those who are working for world peace. February 8, 2003 Statement by the New Ulm DCCW Board