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NCR
As much as one might grouse about
the imperial characteristics of papacy and its effect on internal church
politics, it is clear that the nature of that office has allowed Pope John Paul
II to grab the world’s attention and insert himself into the discussion of
war in a unique way.
No other figure can speak such difficult truths to culture as this
pope, famously without divisions and even amid a major institutional crisis of
his own. I find it fascinating that some of his most ardent supporters in this
country do not see, in his stinging critique of modern militarism, one more bit
of evidence of the culture of death they find so dangerous in other contexts.
Certainly no one does war as well as the United States.
The irony of the elderly and infirm pope, standing apart from the
normal councils of power and war and calling on the mighty to lay down their
arms, is wonderfully biblical. And war, he says simply, is “always a
defeat for humanity.”
The esteemed Washington Post
columnist Mary McGrory wrote recently that the pope “is causing
heartburn” among conservative Catholics, who make up a key constituency
for President Bush. She points out that it’s tough, if not impossible, to
send out the normal attack dogs to take on the pope.
In that same column, McGrory mentions a conversation she had with
NCR Publisher Tom Fox, whom she described as “intrepid.”
During the conversation, Fox told her he thinks the pope should make a trip to
Baghdad to avert the war. Who would bomb Iraq if the pope were there? You can
find more on that idea in Fox’s perspective on Page 24.
By the way, Fox was in Washington to
deliver a lecture, sponsored by Georgetown University’s Office of the
President, based on Fox’s latest book, Pentecost in Asia (Orbis
Books). The discussion that followed was moderated by Chester Gillis, professor
and chair, Georgetown Department of Theology. Fr. Peter Phan, professor and
chair of Catholic Social Thought at Georgetown, responded.
It is noteworthy that Fr. Richard
McBrien (whose column on other matters you’ll also find in this issue,
Page 18) told McGrory that he fears a papal trip to Iraq would play too much
into the hands of Saddam Hussein. He said, according to McGrory, that
“John Paul should head for Washington and the Oval Office to see Bush,
‘the only man who could stop the war.’ ”
If the pope were to travel to
Washington, it would be a short hop to the United Nations, the place leaders of
Pax Christi USA would like him to visit.
In a recent letter to the pope, David Robinson, national
coordinator for Pax Christi, expressed “deep gratitude for all the Vatican
is doing” to avert war in Iraq. “Your voice, however, has barely been
captured by the media in the Untied States. At this critical juncture,
elevating your moral voice could make all the difference in influencing U.S.
public opinion.
“On behalf of Pax Christi USA, the U.S. section of Pax
Christi International, we come to you with a plea that you come to the United
Nations in New York to address the Security Council and, in so doing, address
the U.S. public. We do this in concert with Pax Christi International, which
has been promoting this request. We can think of little else that could have
such consequence in helping the U.S. pull back from the brink of war.”
Robinson continued, “You could bring the desperately needed
wisdom on how the U.S. could be a world leader, without the dependence on
military might and policies of global dominance. Our country so needs a
humility based on God’s vision that all the world’s people have a
place at the table.”
Whatever happens in the weeks ahead,
I must admit to a certain pride in being Catholic in recent months as I have
watched and read and listened to the Catholic contribution to the debate about
war. While I have my own opinions, and while NCR continues to weigh in
heavily on the side of those who oppose violent solutions, at the same time I
have felt privileged to be part of a discussion, if you will, in which I felt
that all sides were honestly seeking the truth, seeking an understanding of
what Christians are called to in a world that is dangerous and complex. I think
a deep search continues to figure out how to be Catholic and Christian in this
world, how to be good citizens, critical of what we perceive as wrong while
loyal to our country’s ideals.
At press time a story came across
about a new statement by the U.S. bishops reiterating their opposition to a
U.S.-led war on Iraq. “Our bishops’ conference continues to question
the moral legitimacy of any preemptive, unilateral use of military force to
overthrow the government of Iraq,” said Bishop Wilton D. Gregory,
president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. While having no illusions
about the Iraqi government, Gregory said the bishops find it difficult to
justify an invasion “lacking clear and adequate evidence of an imminent
attack” or evidence of Iraqi involvement in Sept. 11, or without the
support of the international community.
-- Tom Roberts
My e-mail address is troberts@natcath.org
National Catholic Reporter, March 7,
2003
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