"Open Letter from Lay Catholics to President Bush"

Patrick Madrid, one of the signatories, has blogged an Open Letter from Lay Catholics to President Bush, a counterpoint to Bishop Wilton Gregory's letter on behalf of a subcommittee of the Democratic National Committee the administrative committee of the USCCB, of some time ago.

I agree with this Open Letter completely. I think this paragraph, in particular, is important because it corrects a common misrepresentation misunderstanding:

.... Is it wise to dramatically expand traditional moral and legal limits on just cause to include preventive or preemptive uses of military force to overthrow threatening regimes or to deal with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction? Just war principles do not exclude the preemptive uses of military force against a proven aggressor who is planning or equipping himself for further aggression. No “expansion” of traditional moral and legal limits is necessary or being called for. The question is one of prudential judgment: In light of the likely horrific consequences of Saddam’s acquisition of weapons of mass destruction, is the use of force the only effective way to defend his potential victims? If you conclude in view of all of the facts that force is necessary, then we believe that you are justified, and indeed required, to act. (The proposition sometimes asserted — though not by Bishop Gregory — that preventive or preemptive military action can never be defensive within the meaning of just war doctrine, is simply erroneous.) ....

Here's the conclusion:

.... Would the use of military force lead to wider conflict and instability? We agree that you must very carefully consider whether force might lead to wider conflict. Yet you must also consider whether the reverse is more likely true. Indeed, the weight of evidence, in our judgment, tends in that direction. If the Iraqi regime is not deterred from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, it will almost certainly become an even more aggressive and destabilizing factor in the Middle East than it has heretofore been. Wider conflict and instability could result from the failure to use force in a timely manner. One need think only of the tragic consequences of the failure of France and other nations to enforce the terms of the Versailles Treaty against Germany when Hitler remilitarized the Rhineland in 1936. Had the allies exerted themselves to act at this moment of comparative weakness for the Nazi tyranny, much conflict could have been avoided, and many lives spared.

Norms governing the conduct of war. Here again the focus of Bishop Gregory’s attention is on the very important question of harm to the civilian population of Iraq. And, again, we urge you to take this consideration very seriously, but also to consider the likely harm to innocent people of failing to deter aggression by the Iraqi regime, as well as the possibility of restoring to the Iraqi people freedom from the merciless tyranny of Saddam Hussein.

Catholics and all men and women of goodwill agree that the decision to use military force must never be taken lightly. Indeed, the tradition of just war theory holds that force may be justified only as a last resort. Hence, Bishop Gregory’s admonition to “pursue actively alternatives to war.” But if, in your careful and considered judgment, no alternative can be found capable of removing or disarming a proven aggressor whose willingness to murder his enemies is checked only by his capacity to accomplish the task without unacceptable consequences to himself, then the norms of justice permit — and your obligations of civic leadership require — you to act with the force of arms.

See also Catholic Encyclopedia: War: An article by Charles Macksey and On Conscience and Just War: Nothing more than ramblings: Mostly for Catholics.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Mon. 03/03/03 08:03:51 AM
Categorized as Most Notable & Religious.