Catholic Wisdom on Iran and Iraq (by Jim Wallis)

Published: November 14, 2007, 3:06 pm

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is holding its annual meeting this week. They have elected a new president, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, and will vote on their teaching document for the 2008 election. Two other actions are worth noting. The bishops approved a letter from their International Committee to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging a diplomatic solution with Iran. Recent news accounts speculating on the possible use of force against Iran are especially troubling. From a moral perspective, in the absence of an immediate threat against the United States or our allies, military action would constitute an act of preventive war. The Catholic Church teaches: "[E]ngaging in a preventive war without clear proof that an attack is imminent cannot fail to raise serious moral and juridical questions." The use of force must always be a last resort. In addition, the failure to be transparent about one's nuclear energy program is not grounds for military

[ Full article ]

Blog link

Comments