USA: Another bishop condemns war on Iran

Bishop John Michael Botean

At the beginning of Holy Week, Bishop John Michael Botean of the Romanian Catholic Diocese of St George in Canton, Ohio, released a pastoral letter denouncing the Iran war.

In the letter Bishop Botean says: "I must declare for your sake that this war is unjust, killing in it is murder, and any willing participation in it is complicity in murder."

"the United States launched an attack on the people of Iran with no presumption of legality, no explanation to the American people, and no regard for the tenets of international law."

"To promote this unjust war, leaders initiated a propaganda campaign that spliced images of real-life bombings with scenes from video games and movies, turning horrific violence into a spectacle and dehumanizing victims made in the image and likeness of God"

"to be clear: even if one accepts this theory of justified killing, if this war fails to meet the criteria of a "just war," there is no Catholic "unjust war theory" to permit one's participation in the violence of this war. Killing in an unjust war is murder, and it is forbidden to the Christian."

"The crusade-like mentality behind the attack has removed any pretense that its organizers care about human rights or protecting the lives of civilians. There has not even been any attempt to consider, much less apply, the principles and conditions of just war theory to the killing."

"We can thank Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel for making this quite clear in a recent statement. Paraphrasing historian Will Durant, he said, "History proves that, unfortunately and unhappily, Jesus Christ has no advantage over Genghis Khan. Because if you are strong enough, ruthless enough, powerful enough, evil will overcome good."

"I write in my capacity as your bishop and pastor in my ardent desire for your salvation and eternal life... I must declare for your sake that this war is unjust, killing in it is murder, and any willing participation in it is complicity in murder."

"It is quite clear to me that appealing to the conscience of the state is futile. The state is not listening, and it never will. It is our conscience and our willingness to follow it courageously regardless of consequence that make the difference. Moreover, it is by virtue of our conscience, formed by the teaching of the Church and the command of Christ, that I urge you to resist participation in this war in any way you can."

Read the full letter here: www.romaniancatholic.org/

Many faith leaders have spoken out against the war - Among Catholic issuing statements are: Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Archbishop Paul S Coakley, Head of the US Bishops Conference and Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services.