What wars to the catholic church consider "Just"? If you can give me sites also. that would be great.

Answer 1

The “just war” doctrine requires rigorous consideration to determine if defense by military force is legitimate.

Offensive war is never justified.

All the following considerations must be true to justify war:
1. The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
2. All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
3. There must be serious prospects of success;
4. The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated.

It has been argued the pre-war Iraq:
1. Was not inflicting lasting, grave and certain damage to the United States;
2. Could have been influenced by diplomatic and international sanctions.

It is argued now that:
3. There is not a serious prospect of success;
4. The use of arms has produced evils and disorders greater than the evil eliminated.

The "new" philosophy of the United States to launch wars to get them before they get us can even be argued as an offensive war which would not be justified.

Determing just wars is difficult and open to many interpretations but just wars would probably include:
+ The allies side of World War II
+ The war against Afghanistan and the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

I believe they thought the Vietnam war was just because they felt it was a war of ideals, freedom of religion verses Communism, which is essentially Atheistic. You could probably say the Cold War was justified for the same reasons. Vietnam was so divisive thought that it made a lot of Catholic turn away from the church. I am sure WW2 was also seen as a just cause.

Answer 3

No question that the war against international fascism (wwII) is on the list. Just wars are fought in self defense. The reason John Paul II opposed Bush invading Iraq was that it was an act of aggression.

Answer 4

There is no such thing as a "just" war.

Answer 5

This should explain it for you.

http://www.catholic.com/library/Just_war_Doctrine_1.asp