Since last Oct. 7, we have seen the tragedy and specter of war reign over the Middle East. The nation of Israel has been engaged in conflict with Hamas, and Pope Francis, like a good shepherd, has provided daily spiritual support to the only Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip.
Holy Family Parish in Gaza City has priests, religious, and a congregation of over 500 people, and also houses many displaced and injured Catholics, other Christians, and Muslims. Our Holy Father asked all Catholics to use this Oct. 7 as a day of prayer for peace in this horrible situation, which is only escalating.
Is this conflict a “just war” based on the Church’s definition?
The Church’s teaching on just war is rooted in a centuries-old tradition that seeks to balance the moral imperative of peace with the reality of defending justice and human dignity. The Church holds that while war is always tragic and peace is the ultimate goal, there are circumstances under which engaging in war may be morally justifiable. This is articulated through the Just War Theory, a framework developed by theologians like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, and officially recognized by the modern teachings of the Church.
For a war to be considered just, the following conditions must be met:
1. Just Cause: The war must confront a real and certain danger, such as protecting innocent lives, preserving conditions necessary for human dignity, or securing the basic rights of individuals or nations. War cannot be waged for conquest, revenge, or economic gain.
2. Legitimate Authority: Only duly constituted authorities may wage war. This ensures that private individuals or groups cannot claim the right to start a war.
3. Right Intention: The intention behind the war must be focused on securing a just peace, not for motives of revenge or cruelty. Any hostility must be directed toward correcting a specific injustice.
4. Probability of Success: War should not be initiated if it is unlikely to achieve its objective or if the costs far outweigh the benefits. War must be a reasonable means of restoring peace.
5. Proportionality: The violence used in war must be proportional to the injury suffered. This means that the harm caused by war must not exceed the harm it seeks to prevent.
6. Last Resort: All other means of resolving the conflict, including diplomacy and non-violent alternatives, must be tried and exhausted before resorting to war.
7. Comparative Justice: While both sides in a conflict may claim to have a just cause, the gravity of the injustice being done by force must be weighed carefully.
Even if a war is deemed just, the manner in which it is conducted must adhere to certain moral principles:
• Discrimination: Combatants must distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, ensuring that civilians are not intentionally targeted.
• Proportionality: The use of force must be measured and avoid unnecessary destruction. The level of violence should be proportional to the military objective.
After the experiences of the 20th century with world wars and nuclear weapons, the Church has taken a more cautionary stance on war. Popes have emphasized the importance of peace, diplomacy, and non-violent conflict resolution. St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis have all advocated against war, especially in the context of modern weapons of mass destruction and the disproportionate harm they cause to civilians.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2309) incorporates the Just War Theory but stresses that the “evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.”
Overall, while the Church allows for the possibility of a just war, it emphasizes the grave responsibility of those who wage war and urges the pursuit of peace through all possible means.
May peace come to the Middle East and the rest of the world as soon as possible.