Many opinions on the war

Since the release of the Baker-Hamilton report on the war in Iraq, it has been analyzed by practially everyone in big media and the blogosphere, and repeatedly so. Even today’s scan of world headlines shows plenty of commentary and analysis about Iraq. Just finished looking over The Economist’s online piece, a Capitol Hill blog post, and some wire reporting of political reactions to the whole thing.

But we’re not hearing much insight like this one from a military chaplain in Iraq.

Recently, the Holy Father spoke to a congress of military chaplains and reminded them that chaplains should  stress the value of peace, since they are “guardians of peace.” Moreover, in this holy season of Advent, our thoughts turn to the mystery of Christ’s coming, when (as the Prophet foretold) “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war” (Isa. 2:4-6), for “a little child shall lead them” (Isa. 11:6), who shall be our peace (Mic. 5:5)…

So, we might wonder: how can the military–including military chaplains–say that they serve the cause of peace, in particular of Christ’s peace? After all, the military is manifestly intended to wage war. And this question is especially unsettling when the war the military (along with their chaplains) are engaged in is considered by many to be unjust. In fact, there are quite a few Catholic websites out there, at least one of them by an orthodox, faithful priest, that insist that the military action in Iraq is, in fact, an unjust war. They seem to imply that the Holy Father himself has condemned the war (although he hasn’t). But even failing that argument, they say, the war is unjust by classic Catholic principles. Consequently, all those who engage in that war–including, I suppose, the priest-chaplains who give spiritual comfort to the combatants–are also part of a serious injustice.

In a global news roundup, coming upon this is both startling and….not, when you consider the perspective of a Catholic chaplain on the battlefield in Iraq. But who is considering such a perspective these days? The chaplain posted a review of the Catholic ‘just war’ theory, and he analyzes doctrine according to Augustine and Aquinas, among others, in response to the common criticisms against Iraq.

Unfortunately, they do not ever seem to make it clear that the view they hold is just that: merely an opinion. Indeed their opinion is (in classical Catholic morality) the less probable opinion. I say this because, in the widely-regarded moral system of St Alphonsus of Liguori, if something is established by the law (in this case the declaration of war and statement of causes for declaring war), it has the presumption of being the more probably correct opinion.

It’s important to remember as well that ultimately it lies in the hands of the “sovereign” to determine if war is the prudent choice for defending the interests of the nation. (Of course, the sovereign is morally obliged in so serious a matter to consult wise and judicious counselors.) Furthermore, even a priest in the confessional can never impose a mere opinion on the penitent; in other words, those who try to make the faithful (and of course I’m thinking of our Catholics in the military) think that they are acting immorally simply because they do not share their opinion on the justice of this war are themselves guilty of an injustice; such persons are obliged in conscience to make it clear that their opinion of the war is just that, their opinion, and as such it may be erroneous. Or do such “moralizers” imagine that they can say with absolute certainty whether or not the conditions for a just war have been met? I would be surprised if anyone has ever had such certainty concerning any war in history, since the intentions of those who wage war is something known with perfect certainty only to God, and to whomever He is pleased to share His knowledge with.

So, how does all this tie in to what we said about Advent, Christmas, and peace? Our presumptions concerning our Catholic faithful in the military should be that they are in good faith (since “charity believes all things”); they are engaged, often enough amid great hardship and sacrifice, in a just war to protect one of our greatest natural goods, the safety and prosperity of the nation. In other words, these Catholics (including their priest-chaplains) most certainly are to be considered  in union with, and serving under, the Prince of Peace, who desires that the tranquillity of order (as St Augustine defines “peace”) should reign everywhere, even where violent men violently resist it. If, therefore, you ever had doubts about the war and those who help to wage it–especially our fellow members of the “household of the faith”–cast them aside! And pray for the safety and salvation of all those who have done so much, risked so much, and continue to endure much for the sake of things very dear to the Heart of the Saviour. To all of you and yours, a most blessed and holy Advent and Christmas!

God bless and protect these troops, and grant us the peace that is “the tranquility of order.”