Catholics aren’t consequentialists: Why the US must refuse war crimes in Iran

(RNS) — This past Sunday (July 26), Pope Leo XIV reflected once again with urgency on the theme of peace — a topic clearly at the center of his pontificate. At   his weekly Angelus address   he called on all parties in the Middle East to stop the fighting “so that the peace so greatly desired by the entire region may be achieved without delay.”

The Holy Father has had a particular focus on the United States-led conflict in Iran over the past several months —  referring   to calls for direct attacks against the Iranian people as “truly unacceptable.”

In making these moral judgements, Leo is reflecting centuries-old Catholic teachings on war. Using deadly threats against civilians is both a gravely and intrinsically evil act — something which can never be done, for any reason, regardless of circumstances. The church’s moral theology has similarly referred to several such actions over the centuries: direct abortion and euthanasia, racism, usury, surrogacy, torture, and yes, intentionally threatening innocent lives in war.

There have been   some noises made   in recent years in some corners of the church calling for a so-called paradigm shift in the church’s moral theology…