Catholic activism to end war
On July 3, in an unprecedented move, fourteen Catholic members of Congress asked the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for help in stopping the Iraq war. Read the actual letter here.
The letter says, "If we understand the Catholic tradition correctly, thoughtful church leaders around the world do not believe that the war in Iraq meets the strict conditions for a just war or the high moral standards for overriding the presumption against the use of force. Our concerns are rooted in both the political realm and in our faith and manifest in our efforts to enact legislation that will bring an end to this war."
How far would you go to stop a war? "The Camden 28," airing on PBS's "P.O.V." series on September 11, 2007, recalls a 1971 raid on a Camden, New Jersey draft board office by Catholic activists protesting the Vietnam War and its effects on urban America.
Arrested on site in a clearly planned sting, the protesters included four Catholic priests, a Lutheran minister and 23 others. "The Camden 28" reveals the story behind the arrests — a provocative tale of government intrigue and personal betrayal — and the ensuing legal battle, which Supreme Court Justice William Brennan called "one of the great trials of the 20th century." Thirty-five years later, the participants take stock of their motives, fears and the costs of their activism — and its relevance to America today.
Comments
It is inappropriate for Catholic Congressmen to ask the Council of Bishops to get envolved in the issue of ending the war in Iraq.
The morality of war is of course a grave moral issue and the Church must instruct on this.
Ending the war in Iraq is an issue of politics as an implimenation of moral thought. To end this War is a noble effort, but to include the Catholic is a mistake for both the Church and the state. We, the people unlike in the case of the Nazis, have the capacity of end this war. How this is done, is a matter of a moral, political process.
Finally, what I ask these congressmen is this, how are we going to end the culture of death, called abortion in this country?
Though adoption reform we can do something about this, too.
Posted by: Peter Roach | July 9, 2007 09:34 PM
Your comment is not clear in explaining how your statement here:
"How this is done, is a matter of a moral, political process."
obviates their statement here:
"Our concerns are rooted in both the political realm and in our faith and manifest in our efforts to enact legislation that will bring an end to this war. Pope John Paul II framed the moral question well when he said: 'When, as in Iraq in these days, war threatens the fate of humanity, it is even more urgent to proclaim with a strong and decisive voice that peace is the only path for building a society which is more just and marked by solidarity. Violence and weapons can never resolve the problems of man.'"
Posted by: Alexander | July 9, 2007 11:43 PM