Episode 313: The Panelists on Just War Theory (February 16, 2026)

What exactly does the Church's just war teaching entail? For governments and for citizens, whether in the military or not? What might be relevant here from the conventions or treaties enacted since the 19th century which are examples of positive law but also efforts to specify what's obligated by natural law?Fr. Stratmann writes that "If we consider the conditions which justify a war from the standard of Catholic morality we find that war is almost an impossibility. Defence or restoration of justice are the only justifications for war." p. 63.Fr Stratmann writes, "It is, to begin with, almost impossible to decide who is the original aggressor - whether it is the side which declares war, or that which issues the ultimatum or that which has necessitated the ultimatum" p. 44. And elsewhere he writes of the difficulty of knowing where to place blame, given the old grudges and injustices which occur between countries. In light of this, what can we say about the justice of any war?Does the level of military technology affect just war theory, e.g., can we say that any particular means of waging war is or can be legitimate simply because it is in common use? I am thinking of aerial bombing, which seems to be usually or always wrong, except perhaps when used against a purely military target such as a fleet of enemy warships. Can we make a good argument that a just war is no long impossible given the kinds of armaments employed today?Is this teaching really practical? Does it hamper the actions of governments in protecting their nations? Do government leaders have the right to embrace the idea of Death but not Sin, when that means death for their citizens as well?Does a single nation have the authority or right to act as a police force throughout the world, especially given our proclivity to favor our own interests and pretend that we are acting on behalf of international law or morality?What concretely could a nation, inspired by Christian principles, do to further the cause of peace? Or the Church?