Pro-Lifers Are Not Pro-War / Pro-Life Anti-War Educational Video

Pro-Lifers Are Not Pro-War. Pope John Paul II opposed the invasion of Iraq. The majority of Senate Democrats voted to authorize the invasion of Iraq. Published by Rosemary Vivianne. Music from the Music Bakery and image from Fair Use.

The most public and serious condemnations of the invasion of Iraq came from Pope John Paul II and other top officials at the Vatican. Catholic leaders did as much as they could to dissuade Britain and America from their bellicose course of action, but to no avail.

John Paul was unequivocal in his sympathy for the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and his condemnations of terrorism. At the same time, though, he had long been a persistent critic of Western policies that have led to poverty and resentment among Muslims in the Middle East. He was the first pope to visit Israel, but he was also critical of Israeli policies towards the Palestinians. If there is any sort of middle ground to be walked between Western and Muslim interests in the Middle East, he has done his best to find it.

In January, 2003, Pope John Paul told his Diplomatic Corps:

"War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity... War is never just another means that one can choose to employ for settling differences between nations War cannot be decided uponexcept as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions, without ignoring the consequences for the civilian population both during and after the military operations."

John Paul was not a pacifist — he describes war as a last resort, not as an impossible resort. At the same time, though, he never thought that the invasion of Iraq had reached the last resort stage. Catholic Bishops in the United States and Great Britain were unanimous in their support for his message of peace.

According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the invasion of Iraq did not meet the strict conditions of Catholic teaching for the use of military force. Bishop John Michael Botean of Canton, Ohio, even went so far as to declare that fighting against Iraqis was a mortal sin. Papal representatives met with President George Bush to try to change his mind.

Pope John Paul II very explicitly linked his rejection of the justness of invading Iraq with his rejection of the justness of actions like abortion. For him, it was all part of the culture of death which he has been attacking throughout his pontificate.

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