Third Sunday of Lent (B): March 23, 2003 -- "Reflections on the War in Iraq."

(Third Sunday of Lent (B): This homily was given on March 23, 2003 at St. Pius X Church, Westerly, R.I. by Fr. Raymond Suriani. Read John 2: 13-25.)

"Reflections on the War in Iraq."

What is the proper Catholic response to the situation in Iraq? That’s a question which has been on the minds of many of the faithful in recent days.

On the one hand, you have those who are vehemently asserting that this is not a just war; on the other hand, there are those who are forcefully maintaining that it is. Those who say it’s not a just war will often claim that the pope is "in their camp," so to speak, since he’s pressed very hard for a diplomatic solution in recent weeks, and quoted (at least on one occasion) Pope Paul VI, who said in a speech at the United Nations back in the 1960’s, "No more war!"

But the pope’s position is really not that simple, since he has also asserted on a number of occasions that Iraq must comply fully with U.N. resolution 1441 and other U.N. directives. His insistence on compliance means that he considers the disarming of Iraq to be "a just cause." In a recent talk, for example, he said this: "The political leaders of Iraq certainly have the urgent duty to collaborate fully with the international community, to eliminate every motive for armed intervention. To them I address my urgent appeal: The fate of fellow citizens is always the priority."

Is the Holy Father against war? Yes. Did he want the diplomacy to continue before arms were taken up? Yes. But so, I believe, is our president against war! In fact, I’m quite convinced that if President Bush were "for war" in the sense that his opponents maintain he is, he would have used American military might against Saddam Hussein a long time ago.

In paragraph 2308, the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that "All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war." That’s why diplomatic solutions must always be attempted first.

But then the Catechism goes on to say: "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.’"

So sometimes the use of force is morally acceptable in dealing with evil on a national level. And we have a biblical precedent for this type of action in today’s Gospel text from John 2, where Jesus uses force to expel evildoers from the temple and restore order in that holy setting.

But even when force is deemed necessary by the competent civil authority, we should continue to pray for peace, as our Holy Father (and I believe also our president) are praying for peace daily. Unquestionably, persistent prayer must be at the foundation of a truly Catholic response to these events. But the peace we pray for must be a peace rooted in justice: justice for the Iraqi people, and justice for the millions of innocent men and women throughout the world who have a right to live their lives free from the fear of terrorism, be it biological terrorism or some other type.

This is why—regardless of what one thinks of the present military conflict—the war on terrorism itself is most definitely a "just war," because it involves the legitimate defense of the innocent.

I’m sure you’ve noticed that for the last few weeks I’ve included a special petition for peace in the prayer of the faithful. That petition was very carefully worded. It read: "For a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict with Iraq." We should continue to pray that type of prayer daily—even in the present situation. Given the events of recent days, I’ve added another intention today: "For the protection of the coalition forces, and all the innocent citizens of Iraq."

A good Catholic should desire that all innocent persons—American and Iraqi—be spared.

Let me conclude my remarks today by quoting some things that Fr. Richard Neuhaus said a few weeks ago. Fr. Neuhaus is a convert to the Catholic faith. He’s a former Lutheran pastor who was ordained several years ago by Cardinal John O’Connor of New York. Fr. Neuhaus is also a brilliant—and very orthodox—theologian.

A Catholic reporter asked him this question shortly before the war began: "On whether there is a just cause for an attack against Iraq, many observers question if there is enough evidence of a direct connection between Baghdad and the Sept. 11 attacks. Others doubt that there is clear evidence of an imminent attack of a grave nature by Iraq against other countries. What do you think?"

Fr. Neuhaus responded with these words:

"First it must be said that—although it appears that military action against Iraq may be only a matter of days or weeks away—faithful Catholics are joined with the Holy Father in fervent prayer that war may yet be avoided.

As he has said, war represents a defeat of the right ordering of peace—what St. Augustine called "tranquillitas ordinis"; in history nothing is inevitable; and with God all things are possible.

As St. Thomas Aquinas and other teachers of the just war tradition make clear, war may sometimes be a moral duty in order to overturn injustice and protect the innocent. The just cause in this case is the disarmament of Iraq, a cause consistently affirmed by the Holy Father and reinforced by 17 resolutions of the [U.N.] Security Council.

Whether that cause can be vindicated without resort to military force, and whether it would be wiser to wait and see what Iraq might do over a period of months or years, are matters of prudential judgment beyond the competence of religious authority.

In just war doctrine, the Church sets forth the principles which it is the responsibility of government leaders to apply to specific cases—see Catechism No. 2309.

Saddam Hussein has for 11 years successfully defied international authority. He has used and, it appears, presently possesses and is set upon further developing weapons of mass destruction, and he has publicly stated his support for the Sept. 11 attack and other terrorist actions.

In the judgment of the U.S. and many other countries, he poses a grave and imminent threat to America, world peace and the lives of innumerable innocents. If that judgment is correct, the use of military force to remove that threat, in the absence of plausible alternatives, is both justified and necessary.

Heads of government who are convinced of the correctness of that judgment would be criminally negligent and in violation of their solemn oath to protect their people, if they did not act to remove such a threat.

As a theologian and moralist, I have no special competence to assess the threat posed by Iraq. On the basis of available evidence and my considered confidence in those responsible for making the pertinent decisions, I am inclined to believe and I earnestly pray that they will do the right thing."

Fr. Neuhaus concluded his remarks a bit later with these most important words:

"At this point, we should, with the Holy Father, be on our knees in prayer that Iraq will disarm without military action. If war comes, we must pray that a just cause prevails—quickly, with minimal damage to innocents, and with a long-term determination to help the Iraqi people then freed from a brutal tyranny."

Wise words from a very wise man.

The Holy Father consistently ends his homilies and addresses with a petition to our Blessed Mother. Let me follow that example this morning:

Holy Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Peace, pray for us—pray for our leaders, for our nation, and for our troubled world—in these very difficult days.