(This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)
Last month, President Bush invited religious leaders representing a wide spectrum of faith communities from across the United States to the White House to pray with him and to offer counsel in this time of national sorrow and crisis resulting from the horrific events of September 11th. As the Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, within whose geographic boundaries the Pentagon is located, I was honored to be asked to join the President and other religious leaders in seeking God’s wisdom and guidance as our nation responds to the death and destruction caused by these terrorist attacks.
The attacks of September 11th not only affected the United States of America but the whole world, because they were an attack on freedom and innocent human life. In the statement we issued, we recognized that “the common good has been threatened by these attacks, and we have both a moral right and a grave obligation as a nation to protect the sanctity of life and the common good….[that] we must act to prevent further atrocities of terrorism.”
The question all of us are asking is this: in light of our faith, what should our reaction as Catholics be to the terrorist attacks of September 11th?
Certainly, we must commit ourselves to rooting out terrorism to protect ourselves and future generations from these diabolic attacks on human life and essential freedoms. It is our watch, so to speak, on the stage of world history, and we have the obligation to eradicate terrorism in all of its forms. As disciples of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we must work for peace on earth. Peace is not simply the absence of war; it is the presence of mutual respect and love between all men and women. So, in light of our faith, we must first commit ourselves to building a peaceful and just society.
In order to bring this about, we must pray. Prayer must underline everything we think, speak and do. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us: “Prayer and Christian life are inseparable, for they concern the same love and the same renunciation, proceeding from love; the same filial and loving conformity with the Father’s plan of love; the same transforming union in the Holy Spirit who conforms us more and more to Christ Jesus; the same love for all men, the love with which Jesus has loved us. ‘Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he [will] give it to you. This I command you, to love one another.’” (CCC 2745). The Catechism also points out to us that “Christian prayer extends to the forgiveness of enemies, transfiguring the disciples by configuring him to his Master. Forgiveness is a high-point of Christian prayer; only hearts attuned to God’s compassion can receive the gift of prayer. Forgiveness also bears witness that, in our world, love is stronger than sin…. Forgiveness is the fundamental condition of the reconciliation of the children of God with their Father and of men with one another” (CCC 2844). It is obvious, therefore, that prayer is indispensable in overcoming the evil of terrorism in our world. Prayer is not a luxury or a pious thought or action that we can take or leave. Prayer is essential to building a peaceful world, because it is only in prayer that we will find the correct response to these terrorist attacks and begin to build a peaceful world.
We cannot endorse the wholesale destruction of peoples and countries. In welcoming our new ambassador James Nicholson to the Holy See, Pope John Paul II stated: “I am certain that your country will not hesitate to promote a realistic dialogue which will enable the parties to achieve security, justice and peace, in full respect for human rights and international law.”
As Catholics, we must form our consciences so that we can respond in a godly way to these tragic events. What does the Catholic Church say about war? The Catholic Church teaches that: “…governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed. State leaders and all who share the burdens of public administration have the duty to defend the interests of their people and to conduct such grave matters with a deep sense of responsibility” (GS, 79). The Church also teaches that: “Every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation” (GS, 80).
Yet, the Church teaches that in order for a State to wage war, certain criteria must first be met. First, “the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave and certain.” Secondly, “all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective.” Thirdly, “there must be serious prospects of success.” And, lastly, “the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs heavily in evaluating this condition” (CCC 2309). This is commonly referred to as the “Just War Theory.”
Within this context, the Church tells us: “Warfare conducted with [modern armaments] can inflict immense and indiscriminate havoc which goes far beyond the bounds of legitimate defense…. Men of this generation should realize that they will have to render an account of their warlike behavior; the destiny of generations to come depends largely on the decisions they make today” (GS, 80). Therefore, in our response to these attacks, we must safeguard the innocent as we bring the guilty to justice. No government has the right to go outside the bounds of legitimate defense by destroying innocent citizens of their own, or another country. Our response must be moral and just, and new technologies offer us the ability to pursue legitimate targets while protecting innocent human beings.
Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to President Bush on September 19th. In his letter, he referred to this very issue. “Your administration has been clear that a broad range of security, political, diplomatic, legal and military measures will be necessary to stop this kind of terrorism and bring the perpetrators and their supporters to justice. While we must take into account the unique nature of this new kind of terrorist threat, any military response must be in accord with sound moral principles, notably the norms of the just war tradition such as probability of success, civilian immunity, and proportionality. Our nation must ensure that the grave obligation to protect innocent human life governs our nation’s political and military decisions.”
We must also not succumb to the temptation to ridicule or to harm in any way Arabs, Muslims and others in our midst who erroneously are connected to terrorism. It is morally wrong to harm an innocent human being and to take frustration and anger out on people who had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks against our country. These acts of hate and violence must be denounced and never allowed to be tolerated.
Some have voiced the conclusion that perhaps these terrorist attacks were punishment from God. Indeed, in the Old Testament, we see God visiting the ten plagues against Pharaoh to persuade him to let the Israelite people leave Egypt, and other such instances. But, we must also remember that we are living under the New Covenant of Jesus Christ in which He reveals Himself as the One who desires mercy (cf. Mt. 9:13), and that He “did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (Jn. 12:47). Yes, at times such as these, it is prudent to assess our faithfulness to God as individuals, families, communities, nations and a global family. However, to live in fear and to interpret evil events such as these as the action of God is to make evil a god. Even in the midst of tragedy and violence, God can and is bringing good out of the evil acts of a few human beings. Our response as Christ’s disciples in these dark times is to be “lights to the world,” and “the salt of the earth.” Our responsibility is to point to the reality of God, the possibility of peace and the unconquerable power of divine love in these days in which evil has bared its ugly face.
These tragic days have also brought a reality closer to each of us: we will not live forever. It is a time in which we are forced to ponder whether or not we truly believe that when we die, we will meet Jesus face to face, and whether we are ready at all times for that meeting to take place. We have been reminded that we are pilgrims on our way to our true homeland – to the Father’s House, where unconditional love will embrace us forever.
As Catholics, we must form our consciences so that our response is in accord with the teachings of Jesus Christ. How are we to respond to the terrorist attacks against our country? By fervently seeking in prayer the Lord’s guidance and wisdom in all of our actions as a nation and as individuals. By examining our behavior to see if we are acting out of vengeance or justice. By insisting that the criteria for a just war are met. And, by doing everything in our power to avoid the taking of innocent human life in military undertakings from missile strikes to combat troops.
The sanctity of human life and the common good have been attacked, and we must defend these goods in a manner which is consistent with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Appeasement has never shown itself to be the friend of peace; therefore, we must act in a just manner to confront the evil of terrorism so that the world may be a safe and peaceful place for generations to come. The power of good can overcome evil in each and every human heart and nation.
In his letter to Cardinal McCarrick, dated September 15, 2001, our Holy Father wrote: “To those affected by this immense tragedy I hold up the light of the Gospel and pray that by the prompting of the Holy Spirit they will be led to an ever closer union with the Lord Jesus Christ in the mystery of His cross and resurrection. To all I solemnly repeat the Gospel injunction not to be conquered by evil, but to conquer evil with good (Rom. 12:21), to trust in the power of God’s grace to transform human hearts and to work fearlessly to shape a future of justice, peace and security for the children of our world.”
As Catholics, we are obliged to fight evil and work for good. I offer these reflections, rooted in sound moral principles, with the hope that they will assist us in forming our consciences and responding correctly to the challenges we are facing in light of the recent terrorist attacks. “May the Blessed Virgin, Mother of Mercy, fill the hearts of all with wise thoughts and peaceful intentions” (Pope John Paul II, General Audience, September 12, 2001).
