Wednesday, May 8, 2013
485. In case of war, what does the moral law require?
(Comp 485) Even during a war the moral law always remains valid. It requires the
humane treatment of noncombatants, wounded soldiers and prisoners of war.
Deliberate actions contrary to the law of nations, and the orders that command
such actions are crimes, which blind obedience does not excuse. Acts of mass
destruction must be condemned and likewise the extermination of peoples or
ethnic minorities, which are most grievous sins. One is morally bound to resist
the orders that command such acts.
“In brief”
(CCC 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.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2313) Non-combatants, wounded soldiers, and prisoners
must be respected and treated humanely. Actions deliberately contrary to the
law of nations and to its universal principles are crimes, as are the orders
that command such actions. Blind obedience does not suffice to excuse those who
carry them out. Thus the extermination of a people, nation, or ethnic minority
must be condemned as a mortal sin. One is morally bound to resist orders that
command genocide. (CCC 2314) "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 §3). A danger of modern warfare is that it provides
the opportunity to those who possess modern scientific weapons especially
atomic, biological, or chemical weapons - to commit such crimes.
Reflection
(CCC 2312) The Church and human reason both assert the
permanent validity of the moral law
during armed conflict. "The mere fact that war has regrettably broken
out does not mean that everything becomes licit between the warring
parties" (GS 79 § 4).
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