THE ISSUE

 

Join with the U.S. bishops in calling for new directions in U.S. international policy finding alternatives other than war in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. 

 

PREPARATION

The statement below was formulated by a coalition of Catholic leaders and made public on December 19, 2001. The authors invite a continuing dialogue that takes seriously the Gospel challenge of Jesus who calls peacemakers blessed and who reminds us that forgiveness is at the heart of our faith. In so doing, they call for a new Catholic paradigm for making judgments on war and peace.

The principles of Catholic moral teaching make possible, indeed demand, a judgment on the morality of our government's massive military response to the events of September 11th. The bombing of Afghanistan which began on October 7 and the war that continues unabated come under the same Gospel judgment as all of those realities which the bishops name so accurately as requiring resolution if our world is ever to be safe.

We believe that these moral assessments demand a new direction in the worldwide response to terrorism. In addition we invite our bishops and all Catholics to rethink the "Just War" tradition and seek a new paradigm for judging questions of war and peace today.

What follows are suggested steps to be taken in that regard, offered here to stimulate further reflection and discernment. It is our hope that voices might be raised at every level of our faith community in support of such steps, which we consider essential for achieving true peace.

 


ACTION

 

Read the following statement 1-11. If you are in agreement, sign the statement by going to the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns web site (caution: older browsers may have difficulty with this site). You may also sign on by sending a fax to Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns at 202-832-5195.

You are also invited to send copies of the statement to your local media, your Bishop and/or your Member of Congress. You can also use it as a resource for a letter to the editor or an op-ed piece that you write. Share the statement with others and invite them to sign on as well.


STATEMENT:

  1. The bombing and the war against Afghanistan must stop and no new theater of military action should open. Let multinational police action replace these military efforts to capture the perpetrators of the terrorist violence of September 11th and turn them over to an international court.
  2. The rhetoric of war should cease. Without doubt the destruction done in New York, Arlington, Virginia and Pennsylvania was massive. In fact, it represents a grave crime against humanity, the crime of mass murder. The act bears a greater likeness to the terrible crimes of international criminal networks than it does to war.
  3. For these reasons, we call on the executive and legislative branches of our government to support and ratify the International Criminal Court. Failure to do so represents a failure to establish an appropriate and vital tool to address exactly these types of crimes.
  4. Control of information has become a foremost weapon of modern warfare. As people of faith, together with all citizens committed to the truth, we demand an end to censorship in any form and under any pretext. We need alternative reliable sources of information, as well as the existing media establishment, asserting courageous leadership in pursuing the full truth.
  5. All the results of the bombing and other acts of war in Afghanistan must be made known, no matter who is responsible. The true extent of civilian casualties must become public and as real to us as are the US casualties in the war.
  6. We must see to the rebuilding of Afghanistan, which will require a sustained commitment of support from the United States. It is morally unacceptable for a senior US official to say public comments like, "We're here to get these people. That's why we came. Then we're leaving". The US bears responsibility for what we have done to Afghanistan. As the history of the 20th Century has shown - including previous US government involvement in Afghanistan - only a commitment to help devastated nations rebuild a decent way of life for their people can prevent future wars and terrorism.
  7. A just and sustained resolution of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, so significant and symbolic in the Arab world, requires immediate and active engagement on the part of our country, along with the international community. In their letter the bishops make this point most emphatically.
  8. Fear of terrorism is being used to create a climate in which some of our Constitutional rights and liberties are being threatened. Checks and balances set in place by the Constitution are also being jeopardized. We call on our Congressional representatives to protect these rights and liberties in accord with their sworn responsibilities to defend the Constitution of the United States.
  9. Greater focus needs to be placed on the larger context in which these awful events occurred -- massive poverty, discrimination and unjust global economic systems. It would be of inestimable value for the cause of peace to establish a government commission to study the grievances which are manipulated by perpetrators of desperate attacks like that which we endured on September 11th. Broad consultation must be undertaken. As Catholics, we can draw on our international networks of Catholic institutions, religious and missionary communities, and worldwide dioceses as valuable resources for important information and faith-based judgments regarding local situations across the globe, along with their partners in the larger interfaith community and non-governmental organizations in the countries where they work. We need to listen to their voices and to the voices of the marginalized, the poor, and the victims of war and injustice whom our colleagues in faith accompany. We need to call upon all of these resources as our partners in study and discernment, and particularly in service of stopping a spread of US military action to other countries.
  10. Religious justification has been used as an indispensable tool of warfare. Therefore, Catholic responses after the crimes of September 11th and especially after the commencement of bombing on October 7th must come under review and re-evaluation. The comments made within hours and days by prominent church people justifying military retaliation in the name of Just War principles may have contributed to an immediate war-making response on the part of our government. Such declarations also gave the impression that the church understands itself as a legitimate and authoritative moral voice in giving permission for war. We are convinced that the first, and second, and last words from leaders in the Catholic community must promote and explore and lead the way along every possible peaceful avenue to conflict resolution and the achievement of justice for all.
  11. Finally, we call for the convening of fora throughout the faith community to discern and chart a new Catholic paradigm to replace Just War Theory. It is time.

 

 

 


 REFLECTION

Read the following Gospel passages, take some time for silence, then user them as references for your reflections / discussion — Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-35; Luke 5:20-26; Matthew 5:1-12; Matthew 18:21-22; Luke 17:4.

What are the moral criteria needed to sanction the use of force?

Are the just war criteria helpful / applicable in the current situation? Are there other ciriteria available?

What do you think are the impediments to implementing some of these actions?

Do you believe that these actions will help to develop a more secure and peaceful world? Why or why not?

What other suggestions might you offer that would help the world to achieve a peaceful end to terrorism?