War & Conflict

In order for us to co-exist in our increasingly interdependent world we must learn to live more peacefully.

The effects of war and violent conflict involve not only in the loss of life, but environmental and economic casualties as well.

The Catholic Church proclaims that all human life is sacred and that the dignity of all humans is the foundation of a moral vision for society. Catholic social teaching calls on us to work to end war, to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means.

We recognize that humans must learn to overcome the conditioned belief that armed force is an acceptable way of dealing with disputes. It's a human weakness, not a strength, to solve problems with cruelty, brutality and murder.

War is immoral and unacceptable as foreign policy. The disastrous consequences of war include the loss of human life, the destruction of a country, the displacement of millions of people, the growing hostility toward the U.S. and the loss of moral authority.

Developing nonviolent means of dealing with conflict is imperative. We know that conflict will always exist. How we as nations and people deal with it becomes increasingly critical in this dangerous and interconnected world. Multilateral diplomacy, international peace forces and other nonviolent means need to be strengthened and further developed. War is not the answer. Do we have the will to shift our personnel, financial and intellectual resources to other means of dealing with conflict?

What can you do? Stay informed! An informed and active citizenry is essential to a healthy democracy. How many of us know much about the no-bid contract for Halliburton to rebuild Iraq and what happened? How many of us know that there are as many private security company personnel in Iraq as there are U.S. military and that they are outside the control of the U.S. government? Being an informed citizen requires searching out sources of information other than the standard media. Being informed helps us be less susceptible to being manipulated by fear. Discussion, debate, critical thinking and dissent are essential to a healthy democracy. Contrary to what some want us to believe, these are "patriotic" activities.

Regions currently at war or in conflict:

Bahrain
Libya
Syria
Thailand
Uganda
Iraq
Somalia
Afghanistan
Sudan
Pakistan
Israel

MILITARY SPENDING
The 189 members of the U.N. established the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000 to reduce poverty and hunger, provide universal education, achieve gender equity, improve child and maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS and malaria, achieve environmental sustainability and a global partnership for sustainable development by 2015. It is estimated that only $50 billion of additional aid per year may be needed to meet all of the MDGs. That is less than is spent in 6 months by the U.S. for the Iraq war.

Father John Dear Explains Pope John XXIII's Pacem in Terris: A Public Cry for Peace

A few months after the world came to the brink of nuclear warfare, during the Cuban missile crisis, John XXIII issued the church's strongest plea for peace. His 1963 Easter tidings broke new ground immediately because it was addressed "to all men and women of goodwill," not just the Christian community. The document took principles of traditional social doctrine, made them universal, and rooted them in the Gospel call for peace. MORE