War

Introduction
“Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps,
the most to be dreaded because it comprises and
develops the germ of every other. War is the
parent of armies; from these proceed debts and
taxes … known instruments for bringing the
many under the domination of the few.…
No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst
of continual warfare.”
James Madison, Political Observations, 1795

 
 When is a War Just?
  For almost 2000 years the question of
when Christians should go to war has
been hotly debated. Since the taking of
human life is so seriously opposed to
Gospel values, warfare has always
presented a serious moral dilemma. In the
Middle Ages St.Thomas Aquinas developed
the “Just War Theory” not to justify war
but to limit its scope and methods.
Just War Theory
 The criteria set out for the just
war include –
 The cause must be just.
 It must be undertaken by a legitimate authority
 The intention must be right.
 It must be a last resort.
 There must be a declaration of war.
 There must be reasonable hope of success.
 The good that it hopes to achieve must outweigh the
evil produced (the criteria of proportionality).
 Non-Combatants must be immune from attack.
 Discuss
 Based on this criteria discuss the morality of war in Iraq,
Afghanistan or Syria.
 
 Pope John Paul II said “Today the horror and scale of
modern warfare makes it totally unacceptable as a
means of settling differences”.
Do you agree?
 Catechism of the Catholic Church on War

 2327 Because of the evils and injustices that all war brings with
it, we must do everything reasonably possible to avoid it. The
Church prays: "From famine, pestilence, and war, O Lord,
deliver us."
 2328 The Church and human reason assert the permanent
validity of the moral law during armed conflicts. Practices
deliberately contrary to the law of nations and to its universal
principles are crimes.
 2329 "The arms race is one of the greatest curses on the
human race and the harm it inflicts on the poor is more than
can be endured" (GS 81 § 3).
 2330 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called
sons of God" (Mt 5:9).
 War –The Real Cost?
 In the year 2010 total world military spending came to $1600billion
(or $236 for each person on the planet) a 50% increase in the 10
year period since 2001.
 Top 5 Sellers of Arms in the World

 United States
 China

 UK

 France

 Russia
Military spending is concentrated in North
America, Europe, and increasingly, Asia:
 Increased spending before and even
during global economic crisis

 The global financial and economic crisis has

resulted in many nations cutting back on all
sorts of public spending (often against the
criticism of targeting sectors that were not
responsible for the crisis), and yet military
spending seems to be increasing.
How is that justified?
 Spending for peace vs
spending for war
 “There is a large gap between what countries
are prepared to allocate for military means to
provide security and maintain their global and
regional power status, on the one hand, and to
alleviate poverty and promote economic
development, on the other.”
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
 The Human Cost of War
 Imagine what the conflict in Libya or another country in conflict is causing
for the ordinary people who live in the country.
 Crops, land and environment are destroyed.
 Destruction of food stores, shops and property.
 Inflation increases dramatically at times of conflict leading to poverty for
most of the population.
 People are forced to flee and become refugees or internally displaced.
 Much trade and small business ceases.
 Governments stop spending on social needs and divert funds to military
hardware.
 Roads and means of travel are often dangerous.
 It can be difficult to get access for emergency relief.
 Young people are forced to become soldiers.
 
 Discuss
 What are the long-term impacts for the people of a country at war
even when the conflict ceases.
For example: If no crops are planted this year, what will next year
hold?
 
 What will the future hold for the many refugees who flee the
conflict?
 
 What are the long-term implications when children are used in
war?
 
 
 Imagine if all the military mind
power and money that is being spent
on war was spent instead on finding
other non-violent solutions, what
might be possible?
 The US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has cost
over 1,000 billion dollars.

 The arms trade is the second biggest trade in the

world (after illegal drugs!).

 In armed conflicts since 1945, 90% of casualties

have been civilians, compared to 50% in the
Second World War and 10% in the First.

 There are 250,000 licensed firearms dealers in the

US alone.
 THE U.N.
 The U.N. was created after World War II with leading efforts by the
United States and key allies.
 The U.N. was set up to be committed to preserving peace through
international cooperation and collective security.
 Yet, the U.N.’s entire budget is just a tiny fraction of the world’s
military expenditure, approximately 1.8%
 While the U.N. is not perfect and has many internal issues that need
addressing, it is revealing that the world can spend so much on
their military but contribute so little to the goals of global security,
international cooperation and peace.
 At the current level of spending (for
2010), it would take just a handful of
years for the world’s donor countries to
cover their entire aid shortfall, of over $4
trillion in promised official aid since 1970,
more than 40 years ago.
 Unfortunately, however poverty fuels
violence and defence spending has a
tendency to rise during times of economic
hardship.
 The global financial crisis is potentially
ushering in enormous economic hardship
around the world.
 At a time when a deep economic recession is causing much turbulence in
the civilian world … defence giants such as Boeing and EADS, or
Finmeccanica and Northrop Grumman, are enjoying a reliable and growing
revenue stream from countries eager to increase their military might.

 Both geopolitical hostilities and domestic violence tend to flare up during

downturns.

 Shareholders and employees in the aerospace and defence industry are

clearly the ones who benefit most from growing defense spending.

 Defence companies, whose main task is to aid governments’ efforts to

defend or acquire territory, routinely highlight their capacity to contribute to
economic growth and to provide employment.

 Military might delivers geopolitical supremacy, but peace delivers economic

prosperity and stability.
— Jorn Madslien, The purchasing power of peace , BBC, June 3, 2009
 War versus Poverty
The $1600 billion spent in the year 2011 on the arms industry
could have tackled some of the greatest needs of our world.
Providing basic health care to those currently without - $20

billion per annum.

Providing shelter to those without it - $21 billion per annum.

Provide literacy for all - $5 billion per annum.

Eliminate starvation and malnourishment - $25 billion per

annum.
Provide safe clean water for all - $50 billion per annum.

Total cost - $129 billion per annum.

 
 Discuss
 Are these figures surprising or shocking?

 Who makes the choices here?

 Why do we spend more on war than on

peace?

 What does this say about the world that we

live in?
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR PEACE
 
 Lead us from death to life,
From falsehood to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope,
From fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love,
From war to peace.
Let peace fill our hearts,
Our world, our universe.
Let us dream together,
Pray together,
Work together,
To build one world
Of peace and justice
for all.
Deep peace of the running wave to you;
Deep peace of the flowing air to you;
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you;
Deep peace of the shining stars to you;
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.
 Celtic blessing, Celebrating Together (Corrymeela Press 1987)
Goodness is stronger than
evil,
Love is stronger than hate,
Light is stronger than
darkness,
Life is stronger than death.
Desmond Tutu.
 Chaos
The state of our world demands the question: Is God really in control? Look
around. There is war, rioting, destruction, and brokenness. So much has gone wrong,
and things seem to be getting worse, not better. How can a good God allow all of
this pain?
While the evil of the world causes some to question the existence or character of
God, C.S. Lewis argued that it ought to show us that mankind is on the wrong path
and in need of a redeeming God.

 Watch the video CHAOS on Igniter Media:

http://www.ignitermedia.com/mini-movies/21/Chaos