On November 1st, the United Status Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice applying the Just War teaching to our nation’s current position with Iran. While the bishops noted the threat posed by an Iranian nuclear program, they also urged a rigorous course of diplomacy and the use of force as a last resort.
The bishops express "profound concern" with respect to the situation in Iran. They deliver a balanced message, saying on the one hand, that for Iran (and indeed any nation) to develop nuclear weapons is "unacceptable". On the other hand, they make it clear that to "engage in preventative war" without proof of imminent danger raises "serious moral and juridical questions". Couching the topic in terms of the Just War teaching, they point out that "use of force must always be a last resort" and that all options need to be exhausted before force is used. From the bishops’ point of view, the mere fact of having a nuclear energy program, possession of nuclear weapons, or delivering bellicose statements, are not sufficient to justify a preventative war.
The bishops conclude the letter by placing the discussion in context of their long-standing position on nuclear disarmament and proliferation. The point out that Iran is entitled to improve itself and promote economic development for its people. This includes developing a peaceful nuclear energy program. But the international community has a role to play. The international community must do what it can to fulfill its obligations in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which include ending reliance on nuclear weapons by any country, including the United States.
In his inaugural, President John F. Kennedy said "We must never negotiate from fear, and we must never fear to negotiate." Echoing this, the bishops are forceful in their language around the need for thorough and exhaustive diplomacy. They urge Dr. Rice to begin a dialog with Iran immediately. Discussions with Iran are essential, and should not be viewed as a reward, but a means to a much more important end. That end is peace.