What is the official position of Catholic Church on Iraq's war?

Question

IRAQ: Diplomacy Not Troops
Many of you probably heard the President outline his plan for a continued U.S. military presence in Iraq - specifically his proposal for an increase in U.S. troops in Iraq. Radio reports this morning noted that the majority of Americans polled disagree with the President's strategy. The Center of Concern shares many of these concerns and maintains that a military solution to the crisis in Iraq is not feasible, nor desireable.

Below is a statement issued by concerned Catholic organizations in the U.S., including the Center of Concern, condemning the President's strategy in Iraq and calling for an alternative policy of diplomacy and development. We invite you to read the statement and your thoughts on U.S. engagement in Iraq.


RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL FOR A CHANGE OF COURSE IN IRAQ
January, 2007


On January 10, 2007, President Bush announced a change in Iraq policy. We, as organizations of Catholics and as individuals, come together to respond to these new Iraq initiatives.

We respond in the context of Jesus' call to us in the beatitudes to be people of peace (Matt 5:9), and to love our enemies (Luke 6:27) as well as the November 2006 statement by the President of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop William S. Skylstad. In that statement, Bishop Skylstad notes that the pain and destruction of the war in Iraq is "measured in lives lost and many more injured, in widespread sectarian strife, civil insurgency and terrorist attacks, and in the daily struggles of Iraqis to build a decent future for their devastated nation." He noted further that the way forward is bleak and stated that "The Holy See and our Conference now support broad and necessary international engagement to promote stability and reconstruction in Iraq."

We are keenly aware that the members of the U.S. military and their families are shouldering the heavy burdens of extended service in Iraq. They risk death and injury of both body and spirit. However, it is crucial to recognize that political and economic concerns, not military issues, are fueling the continuing strife. Therefore, only solutions that combine the political, diplomatic, economic and religious issues Iraqis face will effectively resolve the underlying conflict and bring peace to Iraq. As the last three years have demonstrated, increasing the U.S. troop presence in Iraq will neither address the root causes of civil strife nor quell the violence. Increased U.S. military action will needlessly endanger our troops and detract from effective action to achieve a cease-fire and create peace. Therefore, the escalation of military presence in Iraq is detrimental to our men and women in the armed forces.

The escalation of military action is far more harmful to Iraqi citizens who are paying the ultimate price in ever-increasing numbers through violence, hunger and lack of ordinary services. Every day, more and more ordinary Iraqis are fleeing their homes and becoming refugees - either within Iraq or in neighboring countries. This dislocation spreads religious, economic and political instability around the region, making it increasingly difficult to handle the influx of those traumatized by this war. The escalation of military action is detrimental to the Iraqi people and the surrounding region.

United States citizens are keenly aware that the military is not an effective tool for bringing peace to Iraq. U.S. citizens understand that Iraq is in the midst of a civil war that requires the engagement of all parties in a peace process in order to resolve the issues. Military action in this context only brings more violence and bloodshed and no end to this conflict. The escalation of military action is detrimental the desires of people of the United States.

Finally, only those in the military and their families are sacrificing for the sake of this war. There has been no effort to finance this war with taxes or other military offsets and the war has been funded without consideration of its impact on the overall federal budget. This fiscal irresponsibility will hamper future generations as they are forced to pay the bills for this generation's war. The escalation of military action is detrimental to the economic future of the United States.

THEREFORE:

We oppose the proposed escalation of U.S. troops in Iraq noting that prior escalations have not resulted in increased peace and stability. Troop escalations in Baghdad in the late summer and early fall of 2006 resulted in increased violence and death for both U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians.
We support the President's call for economic development in Iraq, noting that the current unemployment rate is running at 40 to 50%. Additionally, 60% of the population is under the age of 25 and is in dire need of alternatives to imagine a better future. Any economic development should directly benefit the Iraqi people and their communities, not contractors from other corners of the world.
We urge the President to engage in diplomatic and political negotiations seeking a comprehensive cease fire by all factions in Iraq and the region. The rejection of a comprehensive diplomatic effort is a short-sighted view of American interests. A surge of diplomacy, not an escalation of troops is what is required.
SIMONE CAMPBELL, SSS, Executive Director
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

CAROLE SHINNICK, SSND, Executive Director
Leadership Conference of Women Religious

T. MICHAEL McNULTY, SJ, Justice and Peace Director
Conference of Major Superiors of Men

ALEXIA KELLEY, Executive Director
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good

DAVID A. ROBINSON, Executive Director
Pax Christi USA.

JIM HUG, SJ, President
Center of Concern

MARIE DENNIS, Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

JOE MOLONEY, OSF, President
Franciscan Federation of the United States

AMY WOOLAM ECHEVERRIA
Columban JPIC Office

JANET GOTTSCHALK, MMS, Director
Medical Mission Sisters' Alliance for Justice

FRANK McNEIRNEY, National Coordinator
Catholics Against Capital Punishment (CACP)

SEAMUS FINN, OMI, Director,
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Office

Answer 1

So just what's your question? It appears that you had the answer before you asked?

Answer 2

The Pope calls War a Defeat for Humanity: Neoconservative Iraq Just War Theories Rejected

Answer 3

I agree with the Catholic Church's position on the Iraq War, one which should have been heeded by the Bush Administration a long time ago which would have prevented the ill-advised invasion of Iraq in the first place.

Answer 4

The Church has a right to voice an opinion about any matter it chooses, even though it should probably address its history of protecting pedophile priests before it goes condemning a war that is being fought against a terrorist ideology that would take as much satisfaction blowing up the Vatican as it would blowing up the Mall of America.

War sucks!! There's no two ways about it. We all die. do we die fighting for our freedom? Or, do we die screaming as a dull blade hacks off our head?

Tough choices for some. For others, not so tough.

Answer 5

I agree, sending more troops is as logical as throwing gasoline on a camp fire in hopes that it will burn itself out faster. Iraqis must decide their own destiny. Peace or War is up to them. As Christians, we should work on the side of peace.

Answer 6

The Catholic Church is opposed to war for almost any reason and has been opposed to the war in Iraq since day one. Murder is murder whether it is done by a government, a person, or a doctor.

Answer 7

their position seems to me: anti-abortion anti-gay and nothing else matters

Answer 8

Thank you for this post.

Answer 9

oh my...