Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Why Just War Theory Isn’t Enough

Lisa Sowle Cahill writes that Church teaching about the use of force is paradoxical.  “Just peace” – – not just war should be the distinguishing mark and calling of the global Catholic Church.

“Christian social ethics has long contended with the problem of how to restrain violence. There is certainly no questioning Jesus’ own nonviolent example. Positively, Jesus gospel of compassion, inclusion, forgiveness, reconciliation, and love of God and neighbor is about creating and expanding communities of love, justice, and solidarity. There is surely something paradoxical if not self-contradictory about Christians, starting with Augustine (and his teacher Ambrose), who justify killing in the name of love and the gospel. 

No comments:

Post a Comment