Avant-propos - Studia Moralia

StMor 40 (2002) 39-61
BRIAN V. JOHNSTONE, C.SS.R.
THE WAR ON TERRORISM: A JUST WAR?
In response to the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers and
the Pentagon, and the subsequent “war on terrorism,” a number
of Catholic spokespersons, including lay experts in military
affairs, and some Cardinals and Bishops appealed to the doctrine
of the “Just War” and argued that armed force in this case
could be accepted as a just response. 1 Pope John Paul II himself
has made a number of statements, affirming that religion should
never be used to justify war 2 , promoting tolerance and dialogue
between Christians and Muslims, and calling for aid for the victims
of violence. The Pope has not expressed a moral judgment
about this particular war as such, but has called for the rejection
of all war. 3 Indeed there seem to be two levels of discourse
involved here: a prophetic denunciation of war on the part of the
Pope, and a calculated, ethical acceptance of it, under certain
conditions, by a number of other Church leaders. The Pope’s
statements reflect the longing for peace and opposition to violence
which has been present in Christianity from its beginnings.
The others, using the language of the just war, continue
1
MICHAEL QUINLAN, “The Just War litmus test,” Tablet, 13 October, 2001,
1451; Editorial, America, Oct. 29, 2001, “The aerial attack by the United
States on terrorist and Taliban targets in Afghanistan has been declared a
just war by a number of Catholic leaders, including some bishops and cardinals,”
URL http://www.americapressorg/terror.htm; Cardinal Cormac
Murphy-O’Connor and Archbishop Patrick Kelly in their joint statement
published in Tablet, 29 September, 2001, 1390; “Living With Faith and Hope
After September 11,” Origins 31 (2001) 416.
2
JOHN PAUL II, “Do not use religion as a reason for conflict,” Origins 31
(2001) 285.
3 In his Angelus message for Sunday, 27 January 2002, the Pope said:
“Violence never again! War never again! Terrorism never again! In the name
of God, may every religion bring upon the earth justice and peace, forgiveness
and life, love!” URL http://www.vatican.va.
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