rsrevision.com/gcse

Just War

War, Peace and Human Rights

Roman Catholic

The Just War Theory came from Catholic teaching. It shows a reluctance to enter into war - it must be the last resort, and innocent people must not be targetted. Several Popes have asked world leaders to show restraint. The current Pope has said:

If men could live in peace with God and with each other the world would really resemble a ‘paradise’... War, with its grief and destruction, is always justly considered a calamity in contrast with the plan of God who created everything to give life and who wants to make mankind one family... Never again war!

Church of England

In ‘Countering Terrorism: Power, Violence and Democracy Post 9/11’, the Church of England states it support for efforts to combat terrorism. However, this should not involve attacking the rights of individuals or groups. The report criticises America for trying to act as a world policeman. It says:

All governments have a proper responsibility to take the necessary steps to safeguard their citizens. People in Britain are acutely aware of this following the London bomb attacks of July 2005. But citizens need to be vigilant that these steps do not infringe hard won civil liberties... No country should see itself as the redeemer nation, singled out by God as part of his providential plan.

The report calls for a strengthening of the United Nations as “the legitimate authority for military intervention” and opposes democracy being “imposed on any other country by force.”

Methodist Church teaching

Accepts the right of individuals to follow their own consciences about whether or not to fight in a war.

“The Christian pacifist does not necessarily condemn the use of every kind of force, but refuses to employ force unnecessarily or to destroy others. For example in either personal or state violence.”

The Methodist Church in What the Churches Say, CEM 1995

About Us | Site Map| Contact Us | ©2015 rsrevision.com