Just war?

May 7, 2026

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Catholics in the USA could be forgiven if they are confused by the apparent conflict between their President and ‘their’ Pope. It must be especially troubling for the more conservative among them. Over recent decades they stood firmly behind two conservative Popes, John Paul II and Benedict, but found Francis sufficiently confronting that many rejected much of what he said. Now ‘their’ Leo is in active confrontation with their President and their Catholic Vice-President.

The most recent exchanges among President, Vice-President, and Pope have been about the status of the war against Iran. Is it just(ified) or not?

This article by Peter Norden was recently published in Pearls and Irritations. It offers a clear account of ‘just war theory’ including its development over the centuries to more recent papal pronouncements suggesting that with modern weaponry, including nuclear arms, it is no longer credible to call any war just.

justice morality

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3 responses to “Just war?”

7 May 2026

Brian Bright

The wars against Gaza, Lebanon and Iran have all been waged with many times more civilians killed than soldiers. That says it all. The taking of so many civilian lives is inexcusable. It can’t be justified.

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1. 12 May 2026
  
  ahenderson
  
  Pope Leo is a Chicago Democrat, from a Blue State, which is one of the most left-wing in the. USA. Most of the Cardinals in the USA are of the same ideology. President Trump is the ONLY President who has had the fortitude to confront and hopefully destroy the death cult of the Islamist Extremists who want to annihilate the western world with nuclear weapons. You cannot reason with this regime that murders and tortures its own citizens far more than all the civilian lives combined in Gaza and Lebanon. Iran supports Hamas, Hezbollah and has infiltrated many teaching institutions in the West, brainwashing students to support anyone but Israel. This tiny country of the Jewish nation is fighting for its survival. Pope Leo hopes for an end to war but when you are dealing with an enemy that its the Devil Incarnate you have no option but to destroy it. Completely. And give the Iranian people back their hopes, aspirations and freedom.
  
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  1. 13 May 2026
    
    Peter Albion
    
    The ‘Golden Rule’ or some near variation appears to be a common thread across many religious traditions. Perhaps if Britain and the USA had not sought to plunder Iranian petroleum resources in the 1950s by subverting the elected government the Iranian revolution would not have brought the Ayatollah to power. Even then, perhaps if the USA had not imposed harsh sanctions but instead sought to establish working relations the behaviour of the regime might have moderated. I don’t see how the USA, persuaded by Israel for its own purposes of domination, makes the Iranian situation better by killing more Iranians and increasing the suffering of those who live. Similarly, if Israel could obey the biblical dictates about hospitality for strangers and treat the Palestinians as human, Iran and others might not be so inclined to attack Israel. War does not solve problems and unjust wars diminish the moral standing of those who wage them.
    
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Just war?

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