Summaries / Resúmenes - Studia Moralia

POPE JOHN PAUL II AND THE WAR IN IRAQ 321own country. 29 All would accept that there has to be some zonewithin which the renunciation of military violence is taken forgranted as a legal and moral requirement. Where this renunciationhas not yet been accepted, we cannot really speak of a“nation.” Why then should it be considered the normal state ofaffairs in the world as a whole, that order must be enforced bythe armies of individual states or coalitions of the same? Why isit inconceivable that the boundaries within which violence isexcluded should not embrace the whole world?In such contingent matters it is hard to assess “success” or“failure.” What we can say, in view of the Pope’s overall visionand moral commitments, is that what he said, had to be said.While speaking out may not have produced immediate success,silence would have been an inexcusable failure.The second test is the theological test. The objection israised that this kind of “pastoral” urging and activity on behalfof peace gives the impression that a kind of peace can beachieved on earth by human effort alone. 30 Further, activity ofthis kind, whether by the Roman Catholic Church or by otherworld groups, has often included diplomatic activity. The HolySee has sought to act as a kind of arbitrator or broker betweenconflicting nations. This is clearly a secular kind of undertakingwhich would be proper for an organization like the U.N.O. Butis it the proper task of the Church? The Catholic Church hasassumed that it is. Indeed, under Pope John Paul II, the Holy Seehas become even more involved in diplomacy than heretofore.This commitment is grounded in the Pope’s concern for theprotection and fostering of human life, for the dignity of the personand human rights. 31 However, I suggest that the Pope’s par-29YODER, Nevertheless, 18.30Cf. YODER, Nevertheless,17.31Archbishop Martino’s address, Il Papa e La Pace, (#6). “Anzitutto, lacentralità della persona umana e, di conseguenza, dei suoi diritti. La SantaSede s’impegna a ricordare e – se necessario – a difendere, il primo dei dirittiumani: quello alla vita, in tutte le fasi dello sviluppo biologico della persona,fino alla sua morte naturale”. www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/re_pc_justpeace_doc_2003010_popepeace_it.html.