Is Killing during War time ok QUESTION from Walter Wildes Jr September 25, 2001
Dear Bro: John-Paul I have only one question on this subject of life: When a country go's to war to protect the country and the people in them Is it a Sin to kill someone for whatever cause the country is fighting for. And if not where in scripture or in the church documents that say it is ok to kill in times of war.
Also did Christ ever codone this kind of killing. This has been bugging me for a long time and I would like to havethis clairified.
God Bless
Walter Wildes Jr.
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, OLSM on September 28, 2001 Dear Mr. Wildes:
When the Church officially teaches something it is Christ speaking.
The Church's official teaching on war is found in the Catechism:
Avoiding war 2307 The fifth commandment forbids the intentional destruction of human life. Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war. 105 2308 All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war.
However, as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed. 106
2309 The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time: