[Land of the Free 04]

the Vatican said it was not a just war.

That was not a doctrinal declaration. Nor, to address other posts, does Catholic doctrine completely exclude the death penalty.

[enuu]

Thank you for making that point. It is a widespread misunderstanding perpetuated by the news media that the Pope "condemned" the war in Iraq or declared it "unjust". He did NOT do so. Some high-ranking Vatican officials gave their opinions, but that was not the definitive church viewpoint. I was so confused by the media misrepresentation on this, and discovered the best way to get to the truth is to read the words of the Holy Father himself. His Aposotolic notice on the war is on the Holy See's website: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/