The Military Ordinariate on the War against Iraq and the Sending of Croatian Soldiers to Afghanistan

Zagreb, February 13, 2003 (IKA) — A statement in support of the peace initiative and the sending of Croatian soldiers to Afghanistan was issued on February 13 by the Military Ordinariate of the Republic of Croatia. The statement cited Christ’s words: “Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called the sons of God.” It was noted that these words provide guidance for those who have accepted life according to the Gospels, and therefore the Catechism of the Catholic Church states the following: “The development of human life requires peace” which “cannot exist on the earth… without safeguarding…persons and peoples” because each person is in the image of God, the brother of Jesus. In light of another quotation from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “the prohibition of murder does not abrogate the right to render an unjust aggressor unable to inflict harm,” the statement also says: “therefore, fearing the evil intention that the goal justifies the means, we are of the opinion that the planned so-called preventive war against Iraq cannot in any way fit into the category of a defensive war, which, in the context of the doctrine of the Catholic Church, is permissible only to those who are subjected to unjust aggression.” Therefore, the Military Ordinariate urges all who are not obsessed by imperial intentions to persist in negotiations among people of good intentions, as well as every type of resistance against the options of aggression, “give peace a chance” and offer support to all the peacemaking initiatives, from the exclamation, “No more war! Never again war!” by Pope Paul VI several decades ago before the UN General Assembly to John Paul II and many others prepared to speak out for the good of every person and peace in the world.
The Military Ordinariate also addressed the sending of a contingent of Croatian military police to Afghanistan: “The country of Croatia, which has endured a war of aggression, has acquired useful experience regarding the significance and role of UN forces on its territory. We are aware that the behavior of individual international peacemakers depended on many factors, particularly on their ethical-moral maturity and (lack of) knowledge about where they were going. We therefore believe that the members of the Croatian contingent about to go to Afghanistan, who have been excellently prepared, will learn about the country they is going to, the situation and circumstances, and the international plans in the general region, as seasoned soldiers who have completed ethical-moral preparation and acquired knowledge about the nations and their religious-cultural customs (to which the Military Ordinariate has contributed), representing the Republic of Croatia with dignity and not permitting themselves to be exploited for any interests except for the purpose of peacekeeping. Those who are Catholics, guided by the doctrine of their Church, will find strength for their mission in prayer and the Holy Scriptures.” At the end of the statement, which was signed on behalf of the Military Ordinariate by the vicar general, Msgr. Josip Šantić, hope was expressed that the military police officers going to Afghanistan will conscientiously and correctly perform the tasks entrusted to them, return safely and be enriched by their experience.