THREAD on Just War and Fratelli Tutti.

1/ First, Read @PrawfBainbridge's thread. Second--spoiler alert--I agree with his conclusion. https://twitter.com/PrawfBainbridge/status/1318655976640184320

2/ In Fratelli Tutti @Pontifex discusses the contemporary relevance of Just War Theory. In a section entitled, "The Injustice of War," he notes: "we must work tirelessly to avoid war between nations and peoples." Agreed.

3/ Francis also notes how "[w]ar can easily be chosen by invoking all sorts of allegedly humanitarian, defensive or precautionary excuses, and even resorting to the manipulation of information." Sadly, so true.

4/ Francis continues to explain that while Catholic doctrine recognized "legitimate defence by means of military force," "it is easy to fall into an overly broad interpretation of this potential right." True. We have seen numerous misuses of the self-defense claim.

5/ And thus, Francis notes: "We can no longer think of war as a solution, because its risks will probably always be greater than its supposed benefits."

6/ Concluding: "In view of this, it is very difficult nowadays to invoke the rational criteria elaborated in earlier centuries [by Augustine, Aquinas, Vitoria, Suarez, et al] to speak of the possibility of a “just war”. Never again war!"

7/ So, the immediate question: Is Francis rejecting traditional just war theory? I am not so sure.

8/ There is a strong presumption against recourse to war in the writings of many just war theorists. Francis is at the very least following in that tradition. But I don't think he is rejecting ALL recourses to force. Why?