American Bishop Bars Faithful from War Effort

Catholic World News ^ | March 18, 2003 | staff

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

CANTON, Mar 18, 03 (CWNews.com) -- An American Catholic bishop has forbidden his flock from participating or cooperating in military action against Iraq, under pain of mortal sin. Bishop John Michael Botean, the head of the Romanian Catholic eparchy (diocese) of St. George in Canton, Ohio-- which has jurisdiction over all Byzantine-rite Romanian Catholics living in the US-- invoked the full measure of his authority in a Lenten Letter to his people. The bishop declared with "moral certainty" that the proposed attack on Iraq "does not meet even the minimal standards of the Catholic just-war theory."

The bishop announced that he "must declare to you, my people, for the sake of your salvation as well as my own, that any direct participation and support of this war against the people of Iraq is objectively grave evil, a matter of mortal sin."

Bishop Botean acknowledged that the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2309) identifies public authorities as the final judges of whether military action is justified. But he argued that "the nation-state is never the final arbiter or authority for the Catholic of what is moral." An unjust law or order should not be obeyed, he observed.

Writing with obvious emotion, the Romanian Catholic prelate admitted that "I would much prefer to keep silent." And he pointed out to his people: "Never before have I spoken to you in this manner, explicitly exercising the fullness of authority Jesus Christ has given his apostles." However, he said, he felt a moral burden to guide his people.

Arguing that a military assault on Iraq does not fit the criteria of the just-war tradition, Bishop Botean concluded in stark terms: "Thus, any killing associated with it is unjustified and, in consequence, unequivocally murder."

[Maeve]

wade, weigh .... you never know what you are going to type when a child run pasts you.....

[Almondjoy]

Uh........ first off the crusades are defending a holy land that didn't need to be defended.. back in those times as does now the true people of that land never owned it.. It was fought over by imperalistic powers. It had nothing to do with being just or holy.

In reference to the pope in WWII.. you better go back and do your homework.

[Torie]

The guy's major problem is that he is an egomaniac. It would have been nice if he had prefaced his remark with, "It is my considered opinion ... ," but no he wants to be a control freak.

[Porterville]

I have many opinions about this, but since he is a bishop I don't want to risk the rath of God.

[doug from upland]

Well, the Roman Catholic church has pedophile priests. The Byzantine-rite Romanian Catholics have as big a problem -- Bishop John Michael Botean.

[TheDon]

Another minister for Christ taking the side of Satan.

[kstewskis]

Bishop Botean acknowledged that the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2309) identifies public authorities as the final judges of whether military action is justified. But he argued that "the nation-state is never the final arbiter or authority for the Catholic of what is moral." An unjust law or order should not be obeyed, he observed.

Like many idiot bishops (don't hit...I'm Catholic) this guy is talking out of his hypocritical rear end. And just what did our Catholic fathers and grandfathers who fought to their death defending our country and our freedoms do?? Where they grave sinners because they did this?

Once again, just when we Catholics are trying to pull our bootstraps up from the incredible embarrasement our bishops and priests have been for us, this jerk comes along and waves his magical "out of touch" proposal to us.

[Maeve]

You're welcome.

[narses]

Ping.

[Maeve]

Please note my post 120.

[Palladin]

A good argument for separation of church and state.

The bishop's flock needs to ignore him.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I have done my homework. You'd best do yours and stop believing all the Catholic haters' propaganda.

[Stultis]

I'm going to clarify that this bozo IS NOT Eastern Orthodox.

Right. If he was he'd probably say the same thing, with the exception of blaming the war on the jooos.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

The ignorance of that post is not even worthy of address.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Thanks for the pings and the explanation. I sure hope that assessment of the situation is correct.

[gcruse]

I wonder if this overwrought (over-rot?) bishop is gay, too.

And failing that, surely a libertarian.  </sarcasm>

[narses]

Infiltration in the East Bloc was almost 100%. In the Free World it was substantial. We are seeing the end game of Good versus Evil in the Church.

[dsutah]

Even the Pope hasn't gone THIS far! He may not be happy about a coming war; but he hasn't yet pre-condemned those who are for it, or those who will fight in it. Besides, I saw on the t.v. one night, where there are a number of priests who do support Bush/Blair and others going into Iraq.