www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Bishop's Lent Message and Just War

Greetings,

His Grace, John Michael Botean, Bishop of the Eparchy of St George in Canton. Has posted his Lenten Message to the Eparchy. A wonderful pastoral message that Ithink we all couls benefit from. He makes the case that this would not be a just war, and therefore those who support it will be aiding in the commission of an unjust murder.

It is rather long so I did not post the message here, but go to www.stjosephsbyz.org/diocese.htm [stjosephsbyz.org] and you will find the link to this message.

Peter

May God grant him many blessed years!

Glenn
sinner, former combat paratrooper

Wow! What a courageous act, but truly an example of a bishop exercising his office!

I have been praying the rosary and the "Prayer of St. Francis" daily for a just and peaceful resolution to this crisis. I have noticed an increase in Mass attendance in the last couple of weeks, and had attributed it (hopefully) to the faithful praying for peace. (My church was PACKED on Ash Wednesday evening.)

I find myself conflicted over what is the moral course on this issue. Other Catholics (e.g., theologian Michael Novak) have made eloquent statements that aggression toward Iraq could be considered a "Just War." But, of course, he is not a bishop. What have other bishops, eastern and western, said on this matter?

You can read a letter by Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (or Military Ordinariate) to his priests on possible war with Iraq at www.milarch.org. [milarch.org.] He appears to take a different position.

I saw an interview on EWTN's "The World Over" the other night with Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy in Detroit and I could hardly tell the difference between his statements and those of the other Saddam-apologists. (I hope Bishop John Michael's arguments against "war" are more coherent.) I think, to give him the benefit of the doubt, he is acting out of fear for the Chaldean Catholics and other Christians of Iraq in not even denouncing Saddam.

In regards to the Lenten letter of the Romanian Catholic Bishop...AMEN, AMEN, AMEN! Would that all of the Catholic Bishops of the USA were that outspoken in preaching the Gospel of the Prince of Peace! Don

Dear Friends,

If there is going to be a war, it's going to happen no matter what Canadians or others have to say . . .

It won't be a JUST war - but just WAR.

Apart from the religious philosophy behind all that, what is interesting is how the more the U.S. waits, the greater the international opposition to the war builds, Sept. 9th notwithstanding.

The U.S. is certainly losing moral ground for its military intentions against Iraq over time, philosophy aside.

To villify Iraq's leader as a justification for war is also getting to be rather lame - if the U.S. made war on every country with a despotic leader, it would have quite a few more wars under its belt by now.

What adds to the woes of the USA in terms of international politics (and I don't want to talk about our Prime Minister, thank you!) is that those countries who have understood that time is the greatest foe of the Americans right now have taken control of the U.N. and are pushing for a later date etc.

Apart from the morality issues involved, I think it is a fairly objective comment to say that the U.S. has really botched this entire project from start to finish and even before its forces are off the ground.

Alex

Hello:

Is he really? From his letter I quote:

"Since, at present, there appears to be no clear evidence of an immanent and grave attack by Iraq, it is difficult to justify a preemptive attack against Iraq, according to traditional just war principles."

Is this any different from the message from Bishop John Michael?

Shalom,
Memo.

His Grace, Bishop John Michael (Botean) will address the Youngstown-Warren Ohio Chapter of the Society of Saint John Chrysostom Wednesday, March 19, 7:30 pm at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Boardman, Ohio. His Grace will speak to us on his Lenten Pastoral Letter declaring a war with Iraq to be an unjust war. Anyone who can come is welcome.

Wow.
Bishop John Michael is a beautiful, wise and holy Bishop.
If he has any members of his diocese in the armed forces now "over there," I pray for them especially, as I am sure His Grace is doing at this very moment.

Dear friends, I am somewhat perplexed as to the lack of reactions by many forum members concerning Bishop John Michael's letter. I say this as we are on the brink of war. Just wondering.

An angel of peace.

Dear Friends,

One problem is that Catholic bishops as a whole, owing to certain issues, really don't have all that much credibility on moral issues to begin with. And that is regrettable.

But we must always seek peace.

Alex

.

I, too, certainly fast and pray most sincerely for peace. I know a few of the young men who will be in the fight over in Iraq. Every day I pray the Akathist to the Mother of God and the rosary for peace in the world and an end to terrorism. I also salute the President of the United States for the courage to live up to the oath that he swore to "preserve, protect and defend" the United States of America. I, for one, am proud to be in support of the President and his policy. His speech last night (Monday, March 17) was a very clear articulation as to just why the United States will "go it alone" if we have to in order to protect our national freedom. I will still pray for peace though sometimes peace is just not an absence of war. President John F. Kennedy also did the courageous thing by standing up to the Soviet Union by blockading the missiles going to Cuba. Our nation was safer in the 60's because that President had the courage to stand up to the U.S.S.R. and Castro.
Silouan, a monk for peace who supports the President