Dear Friends,
It is a sobering thought that between the time of me writing this letter and you reading it, war may have broken out between Russia & Ukraine, although of course one hopes and prays that isn’t the case. As the New Testament reminds us, ever since then until now there have been ‘wars and rumours of wars.’ Today in the world there are any number of ‘local’ conflicts continuing, mostly on the continent of Africa. But somehow, they seem a world away barely meriting a mention on our news media. Indeed, as has been pointed out, somewhat acidly by certain commentators, war has been raging between Russia and Ukraine in the east of that country for the last 8 years. But the present situation seems different, with the whole of NATO being ‘drawn in’ albeit indirectly alongside Ukraine. It is all too easy to criticise politicians when it comes to deciding whether or not war is justifiable. Whatever one’s views regarding their particular political agenda I find it difficult to accept that any such decision is taken lightly by anyone. Yet history tells us that on occasion it is the only option. Within the Christian tradition there has grown up the doctrine of the ‘Just War’. Although first propounded over 1,500 years ago, it has survived the test of time, being revised as appropriate to suit changing circumstances. This is perhaps the most relevant contemporary formulation of the doctrine…
- The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
- all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
- There must be serious prospects of success;
- The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated…
It is all too easy for us as Christians to recoil at the slightest suggestion of going to war. The Christian faith might well be described as ‘instinctively pacifist’. I am bound to admit that in my younger days I was ‘taken in’ by a ‘sense’ of naïve idealism – or was it, idealistic naivety – when it came to my attitude to going to war. These words of Pope John Paul 2nd served to remind me of my need to ‘come to my senses’…
‘…Peace, as taught by Sacred Scripture and the experience of men itself, is more than just the absence of war. And the Christian is aware that on earth a human society that is completely and always peaceful is, unfortunately, a utopia and that the ideologies which present it as easily attainable only nourish vain hopes. The cause of peace will not go forward by denying the possibility and the obligation to defend it…’
And so, we must continue to pray for a peaceful solution – one which is just and fair to both sides – but if it comes to it, to continue to pray…