Reflections and Statements (Various Topics)

(7 Principles)
Catholic Just War Theory Guidelines

• A just war can only be waged as a last resort. All non-violent options must be exhausted before the use of force can be justified.
   
• A war is just only if it is waged by a legitimate authority. Even just causes cannot be served by actions taken by individuals or groups who do not constitute an authority sanctioned by whatever the society and outsiders to the society deem legitimate.
   
• A just war can only be fought to redress a wrong suffered. For example, self-defense against an armed attack is always considered to be a just cause. Further, a just war can only be fought with "right" intentions: the only permissable objective of a just war is to redress the injury.
   
• A war can only be just if it is fought with a reasonable chance of success. Deaths and injury incurred in a hopeless cause are not morally justifiable.
   
• The ulimate goal of a just war is to re-establish peace. More specifically, the peace established after the war must be preferable to the peace that would have prevailed if the war had not been fought.
   
• The violence used in the war must be proportional to the injury suffered. States are prohibited from using force not necessary to attain the limited objective of addressing the injury suffered.
   
• The weapons used in war must discriminate between combatants and non-combatants. Civilians are never permissable targets of war, and every effort must be taken to avoid killing civilians. The deaths of civilians are justified only if they are unavoidable victims of a deliberate attack on a military target.

Source:  Catholic Just War Theory received major development from the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Scholastic school of Catholic philosophy.

For further explanations on the development, scope and limitations of Just War Theory see the following:

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1995; Image Books Pub. #2307- #2309
Catholicism by Richard P. McBrien 1981; Harper & Row.
pg. 1034-1039
 

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