Catholics should reject bombing Iraq

As the United States proceeds with its dark threats against Iraq and its relentless preparations for bombing runs against that nation, at least one segment of the American populace should loudly express its opposition: Catholics.

As an article on the front page notes, Pope John Paul II is against the seemingly inevitable attacks because they are the continuation of a failed policy toward Saddam Hussein and Iraq. The first failure was the Persian Gulf War; the second was the subsequent embargo against Iraqis, labeled by the Pope as "pitiless" and which has achieved nothing but the starvation of children and thousands of civilian deaths. Now America is loading its cannons for a third failure: trying to bring about Hussein's compliance through force of arms. That closes the circle; force did not work against Hussein in the first place.

The Vatican is trying through diplomatic channels to stop the U.S. military action. Again and again, the Pope has urged both sides to dialogue in order to "preserve and strengthen respect for justice and international law. I must call upon the consciences of those who, in Iraq and elsewhere, put political, economic or strategic considerations before the fundamental good of the people, and I ask them to show compassion. The weak and the innocent cannot pay for mistakes for which they are not responsible."

Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Eastern-rite Churches, admits that many in the West believe that Hussein is inflexible and should suffer the consequences. "But the consequences are also suffered by the [Iraqi] population," he said, "and we give a priority to this humanitarian aspect -- all the more when it's a matter of new attacks or acts of war."

Clinton Administration officials have admitted that there is no guarantee that bombing will remove Hussein from office or end the threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Indeed, it is far more likely that neither of those objectives will be achieved. What will be achieved is easy to predict: more civilian deaths, additional bloody children and a firmer commitment to the ways of war.

In letters to their congressional representatives and to the President, Catholics must say no to such a policy.

(02-12-98)

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