Australian bishops warn against joining U.S. in pre-emptive strike

Published: 2007-10-04

PERTH, Australia (CNS) -- The Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference said it did not believe the war in Iraq is justified and warned against participating in another pre-emptive strike with the United States. While admitting that Australia's alliance with the U.S. is an "important element of Australia's international security arrangements," the bishops questioned whether the doctrine of pre-emption was consistent with Catholic teaching on just war. The bishops stressed that war cannot be judged only by its consequences. They said Australians "would fail in our duty ... if we were again to take military action without our own thorough assessment of its morality and prospects, and without broad international approval." The bishops said, "Obligations to an ally cannot include an obligation to engage in war that is not justified." In a statement issued Sept. 17 and titled "Who Is My Neighbor? Australia's Role as a Global Citizen," the bishops raised concerns about actions taken without broad international support and a mandate from the United Nations.

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