Just War in Iraq
I have been wanting to post on the justification for war in Iraq. I have not had the time. I will point those looking for the justification within the moral framework of the Catholic Just War doctrine to the following articles/letters:
The Just War Case for the War George Weigel 31 March 2003
Open Letter from Lay Catholics to President Bush
“Asymmetrical Warfare” & Just War Michael Novak 10 Feb 2003
Even though these pieces provide sound arguments for a just war, it is understandable that some catholics do not see the war in Iraq as just. There are a number of reasons Catholics give. Some are unfounded (President Bush lied about WMD). Others are more arguable (only the UN is a competent authority in making the go to war decision). And some could go either way (had we reached a last resort?).
Even if I were to believe the war was unjust it would not suffice as a "proportionate reason" for me to vote for Senator Kerry. My conscience, as formed by the teachings of the Catholic Church, the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, would not allow me to do so. I can understand how Catholics can come to the judgment that the war in Iraq was/continues to be unjust, but I cannot understand how, with the reasons I have read or heard given for an unjust war, any Catholic can see it as enough rationale to vote for a pro-abort candidate like Senator Kerry.
The Just War Case for the War George Weigel 31 March 2003
Open Letter from Lay Catholics to President Bush
“Asymmetrical Warfare” & Just War Michael Novak 10 Feb 2003
Even though these pieces provide sound arguments for a just war, it is understandable that some catholics do not see the war in Iraq as just. There are a number of reasons Catholics give. Some are unfounded (President Bush lied about WMD). Others are more arguable (only the UN is a competent authority in making the go to war decision). And some could go either way (had we reached a last resort?).
Even if I were to believe the war was unjust it would not suffice as a "proportionate reason" for me to vote for Senator Kerry. My conscience, as formed by the teachings of the Catholic Church, the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, would not allow me to do so. I can understand how Catholics can come to the judgment that the war in Iraq was/continues to be unjust, but I cannot understand how, with the reasons I have read or heard given for an unjust war, any Catholic can see it as enough rationale to vote for a pro-abort candidate like Senator Kerry.
posted by David at 8:49 PM
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6 Comments:
What kind of Catholics are you?
Do you think the Vatican II never happened?
You should at least realise that in your religion it is now believed that there is never a case of a Just War, the Pope condemned it, yet you still think you're a true Catholic by advocating the Iraq war as just. It's sickening.
It is amazing to think there are (apparently) citizens of this country that believe killing innocent women, men and children instead of waging war on those responsible for attacking and killing thousands of innocent Americans is a "just" war.
Come on, guys. It's just a small war. What's the big deal?
The war in Iraq is a just and holy war- it is our president's personal crusade to spread our liberty. It's just the meany suiciders that kinda spoil things for us. Bad, bad suiciders!
George Weigel, author of the Just War Case article linked, uses the term, vius ad pacem — the right intention —, as the significant case for just war in Iraq. You know, I thought we was gonna go killin in Iraq because of the imminent threat or something. I guess it's all good because we got the baddy Saddam, and really, that's enough vius ad pacem for Iraq. In fact, I think we got some credit left over from the level of 'baddyness' that Saddam represents for us to go invade Syria- really we should liberate Syria, and then Iran and Pakistan.
Michael Novak, author of the Asymmetrical Warfare article, has some interesting viewponts about these words: '-Bush "lied" when he said in his 2003 State of the Union address that the British had information about the attempt of Iraq to purchase "yellow cake" in Nigeria, as charged by Joseph Wilson.' You should read his response to this for yourself on his website- it's AMAZING! And then you can read for yourself what the current administration had to say about the same thing:
Ari Fleischer (former press secretary): Now, we've long acknowledged -- and this is old news, we've said this repeatedly -- that the information on yellow cake did, indeed, turn out to be incorrect.
Condolezza Rice (National Security Advisor): What we've said subsequently is, knowing what we now know, that some of the Niger documents were apparently forged, we wouldn't have put this in the President's speech -- but that's knowing what we know now.
OOPSIE!
Yea, I mean, the crusades were just wars, too, weren't they?
Yep, Catholics for Bush blog guy is pretty smart... Don't even try to defend this post. Post 25 more things about abortion. Nothing will change the fact that Bush' peripheral abortion actions have not saved anywhere near the 20,000 lives he is responsible for in Iraq.
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