The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-24
Catholic Thought And Opinion
Ry RlEY. JosEPH E. DoNNELLY

the other cheeka. the individual may fellow tho counsels 0E Chtist and offer indignitaes and transeres- sioas Co God As a voluntary sacrt- fee, bat the State must defend itself end the rights o6 iis members. THE CHURCH
 AND WAR
 The Church locks on var as a scourge. In her prayers she likens 1t Co pestilenee and famine. kt is on eyA which can be admitted As Q necessary evil only when ell Othek means have failed.
 one who follows the Prince of Peace cannot favor war. Hatred, violence and bloodelaed are the aia-
 Athesis Of Hig teaching. However, there are situations arislng out of the evil that men do in which, while as followers 0f Christ we do not favor war, We do recognize 0slr- selves as faced with the necessity of defending, and equipped with the right to defend, our national existence. So we recognize that 1t may be not only our right but our duty to angwer our eoaantvy's cali to war. a
 However, 1t should be noted that we are not obliged to follow the state unquestionably in this matter or in any other matter. We cannot do evil even if the state should command it. If the State is evident ly wrong, # since we speak Of war, 8 war Is plainly unjust we, not only Catholics but all children of 0od, would be obliged to refuse obedl- ence. It Is @ common axiom of jurisprudence that no law can be binding if 1t runs contrary to the law of c higher legislator. Hence the law of the State iS not binding if 1t runs contrary to the law of God. We cannot give Caesar what belongs to God.
 WHAT OF THE
 CONsCEENCI0Us 0BJECT0RS?
 What of the conscience which holds firmly 10 the immortality of all wars? We know that an individual may never act against hts con- science, may never disregard 1t. But Q conscience may be wrong as well as right and ell individuals have the obligation of educating their consciences.
 Truly 1t is a psychological mys- tery how individuals even when they have consulted the learned and found them disagreelng, still hold firmly to their convictions and be- lleve everyone out of step but them selves. But mysterious as this atti- tude IS to most men, most con. ciencious objectors are sincere and every moralist will uphold not only their right but their duty of loyalty to their conscience and to God. Moreover, their right begets Q duty in others of respecting the right. Our Government both recognizes and respects the right of the con- scientious objector to be true to his conscience.
 WHERE LIES
 JUSTICE
 While we may not participate in a war that Is certainly unjust, we must when the State asks give our services to our country in q war that is just. But even when we know the principles by which we can judge the justice of c war we as individuals certainly never have all the facts to which we might apply the principles. Then how do we de- eide the case and what of the pres- ent instance?
 Since the State exists to promote the common good and justice Is part of that common good, we may pre- sume the justice of the State ln- less the evidence to the contrary is conclusive. That justice begets an obligation of obedience. Wherefore the service that we Catholics render to our country in the present war in not merely . matter of opinion or loyalty; we recognize that serv- ice and loyalty as buttFessed with an allegiance arising out of our ob- li0a kingaa kA f1nd