The International Affairs department of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has released a recent document that presents a Catholic approach to issues around arms control and disarmament.
In ‘Called to be Peacemakers’, the authors argue that if Catholics are to reply Christ’s call to face as peacemakers in a troubled world, they have to make striving to limit the proliferation of weapons and advancing the reason for global disarmament an integral a part of their mission.
“There’s an urgent need for us, as Christians, to advocate for an end to violence and war in our world today,” said Bishop Nicholas Hudson, newly-elected Chair of the International Affairs department.
“More than 140,000 individuals are killed annually on account of armed conflict, not to say the broader impacts of war, corresponding to restricted access to wash water, food, healthcare and basic services.”
The document clarifies that the Church’s call for general and complete disarmament doesn’t mean the whole elimination of all weaponry and defence capabilities. Instead, it advocates eliminating weapons of mass destruction, regulating conventional arms, lowering military spending, and strengthening mechanisms for peace.
“Called to be Peacemakers presents the arguments for disarmament – by way of each conventional and nuclear weaponry – through a Catholic lens informed by Catholic social teaching,” it says.
“Vast sums of public money are spent on weaponry. One can legitimately argue that these funds might be higher used to alleviate hardship and promote the common good of humanity.”
Saying that courageous decisions ought to be taken on a world scale, co-author Bishop William Kenney, a long-term opponent of nuclear weapons said, “I’d echo Pope Francis’ call that now could be the time to counter the logic of fear with the ethic of responsibility.”
“Nations have a right to defend themselves, it’s even within the Gospel, the person who keeps watch will stop the burglar coming. But that right shouldn’t be prolonged. Global cooperation is required in relation to meaningful disarmament, and we must foster a climate of trust and sincere dialogue.”
The bishops also expressed their growing concerns over fast-developing autonomous weaponry and the ethics governing their use, making specific mention of weapons designed to discover and attack targets without the necessity for further human intervention.
“Globally now we have been too slow to acknowledge the immorality of various types of weaponry corresponding to Chemical or Blinding Laser Weapons,” Bishop Declan Lang, former chair of the International Affairs department, said.
“We must learn from this and work towards a world moratorium on the event and use of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). We cannot abdicate our moral responsibilities.”
‘Called to be Peacemakers’ puts particular emphasis on the concept every human life lost to violence and conflict is a tragedy for our universal family.
“This is a difficult time for the worldwide community, and we’re called to advertise peace and unity amongst nations – each looking for an end to war and at the identical time addressing among the biggest humanitarian challenges of our time corresponding to the impact of climate change. No country acting by itself can solve these problems.”
