Just War Principles and Iraq
October 6, 2002
Fr. George Smiga

Matthew 21:33-43

Not all the parables of Jesus show us how to live. Some merely describe the world as it is, and sometimes those descriptions can be frightening. This is the case with today's parable of the tenant farmers in the vineyard. This parable does not show us what we need to do, but instead describes a frightening pattern that is present in our world: the pattern of escalating violence. The tenants kill the owner's slaves, then they kill more slaves, then they kill his son, and in turn the owner comes and kills them. There are no winners in this parable. Everyone is mortally wounded. This parable is not an example but is rather a warning, a warning of how dangerous it is to live in a world where violence can spin out of control and hurt us all. As Americans, the warning of this parable is particularly appropriate for us today as our country contemplates war with Iraq.

I know that you are aware that our congress, and indeed our entire country, is now involved in a debate whether it is appropriate for us to use military force to remove Saddam Hussein from power. The gospel reminds us that you and I, as Christian believers, must make our voices a part of that debate. As Catholic Christians we recognize that God is the author of all things and that the life on this earth is something precious. We are a community that strives to protect life: to protect the unborn life in the womb, to protect the value of those who suffer the challenges of mental or physical disability, to uplift the value of the poor, to protect victims of verbal or physical abuse. This is the stance that we take as a community because we value and respect life. We understand that any military action threatens life, and therefore we believe that military action must be limited only to extreme cases. This is why our voices must be a part of this discussion of American policy. It is connected to our faith.

Our Catholic tradition gives us guidance here. This is not the first time that Catholic Christians have struggled with the realities of military intervention. Over the centuries the Catholic experience has developed a set of principles that are meant to guide us as these kinds of decisions are made. Catholic moral teaching calls these the Just War Principles. In these principles there is an overwhelming presumption against the use of military force. This is because military action will almost always inflict real harm on some form of life. But the Just War Principles say that when certain conditions are met, military force can in fact be justified as a part of a just war.

Last month, the U.S. Catholic Bishops wrote a letter to President Bush saying that according to Catholic teaching, any unilateral, preemptive strike into Iraq at this time could not be justified under the principles of the just war. Now I know that the stock of the Bishops is rather low at this time because of their mishandling of the sexual abuse issues. Nevertheless, they remain the leaders of our church community and when they speak on an important issue we should consider what they say as part of our own conscience formation. In the letter to President Bush many reasons are given explaining why the present action that the United States is contemplating cannot be justified. (If you want to read all of them there are copies of the letter in the kiosk or click here to view the letter on the US Catholic Bishop's website) But let me share just one reason with you.

According to the just war principles, military force can be justified only when an attack or a threat by another nation is lasting, grave, and certain. The United States Bishops believe we do not, at present, meet the requirement of certainty. I agree with their assessment. There has been no clear-cut connection established between the attack of September 11th and Iraq. Moreover, there does not seem to be now an immediate and grave threat from Iraq to our country. Now clearly Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and we would all be much better off if he were not in power. However, what is being contemplated is the use of direct violence, and that use must meet a higher criteria than simply the elimination of future problem.

Clearly, the situation in the world today is complex. However, we are as a country are now standing on the brink of war. This is why we as Christian believers must raise our voice and ask serious questions. Such questioning is not simply our moral responsibility but also a part of our democratic process. We need to ask, is military intervention the only option? Is it the best option? And if it were to be used, could it be justified? These are the questions that we must bring to our prayer. These are questions we must discuss with one another. These are questions we should help raise in the minds of other Americans.

The warning of today's parable must be taken seriously. We live in a world where violence begets violence. We live in a world where the destruction of human life can all too easily escalate. We owe it to ourselves to make sure that if our country uses military force, that use of violence will not create evils that are greater than the evil we seek to eliminate. As Christians and as Americans we must not only assure ourselves that military action is a just action; we must also try to be very sure that if we go to war, such violence is truly a last resort.