Resolution on imperatives of peace / National Conference of Catholic Bishops.


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Resolution

Imperatives

of

Peace

1

IV,
November 16, 1972

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

OF
CATHOLIC BISHOPS



This is a critical moment in the history of
the Vietnam war. Intensive efforts on the part
of our government as well as other parties
involved appear to be refining the final de-
tails of a settlement which will end the
fighting. Recalling our exhortation a year ago
to our nation's leaders and to leaders of
all nations to "bring the war to an end with
no further delay/' we pray earnestly to
Christ, the Prince of Peace, for a successful

outcome of the present negotiations: that
is, for a just and lasting peace with stability
and freedom for all the nations and peoples
of Southeast Asia. We couple this prayer with
a plea to both sides for an end to bombing
and terrorism which are causing such loss
of civilian life and destruction of the land
itself. Indeed, a particularly anguishing and,
in many cases, immoral aspect of this war
has been the suffering and death inflicted on
non-combatants.

It is vitally important that Americans now
turn their attention to the task of reconcilia-

tion not only in Southeast Asia but also in

our country. This war can well leave a resi-
due of bitterness which could poison our
national life for years to come. This must
not be allowed to happen. We must instead
seek to resolve our differences in a spirit
of mutual understanding and respect.

Special attention must be given to the

young people of our nation whom the war
has profoundly affected in so many ways,
material, psychological, and spiritual. Our re-
turning veterans and especially the wounded
and the prisoners of war, must be given every

possible consideration and assistance to en-

able them to reintegrate their personal and
professional lives into civilian society. Our
sincere compassion should be extended to

the families of men killed in the fighting.
The dead, the maimed, and the missing in
action should have constant remembrance
in our prayers. Those who continue to serve
in the military should also receive the moral

and material support of the nation.

In a spirit of reconciliation, all possible

consideration must be given to those young
men who, because of sincere conscientious



belief, refused to participate in the war. A
year ago, we urged "that the civil authori-
ties grant generous pardon of convictions in-

curred under the Selective Service Act, with

the understanding that sincere conscientious

objectors should remain open in principle
to some form of service to the community."
(Resolution on Southeast Asia, National Con-
ference of Catholic Bishops, November,
1971). We again urge government officials
and all Americans to respond in this spirit

to the conspicuous need to find a solution
to the problems of these men. Generosity
represents the best of the American tradi-
tion and should characterize our response to
this urgent challenge.

Generosity must also mark our participa-
tion in efforts to rebuild the war-torn na-

tions and societies of Southeast Asia. There

can be no doubt that the people of North
and South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
have suffered a tragedy far greater than ours.

The dramatic and successful programs of
aid and reconstruction carried out by the

United States following World War II pro-
vide a model for what is demanded of us
now. We must be unstinting in the expend-
ing of our moral, material and technical
resources and skills on behalf of the people
of Southeast Asia who have suffered so
grievously.

Finally, we believe that the imperatives of
peace now demand intensive study of many
complex and pressing moral issues. The
return of peace should not cause a slacken-
ing of attention to these matters. The ex-
perience of recent years amply illustrates
the fact that grave ethical and moral ques-
tions regarding warfare remain unresolved.

While recognizing the right of self-defense,
we are nevertheless convinced that war is
not an apt means of settling disputes. The
quest for viable means of preventing war
and for effective alternative methods of
resolving conflicts—through such agencies
as the United Nations—is an urgent impera-
tive. Technological skill in the science of

war must not outstrip humane skill in the
arts of peace. Church agencies, including
the United States Catholic Conference, Cath-



olic educational institutions, diocesan offices

for justice and peace and organizations of

the laity should in the months and years to
come take a leading role in the effort to
work for international justice and to find
ways to ensure that peace—which, God
willing, is returning to Southeast Asia and
also to the United States—will be the
permanent condition of human life in all na-
tions and for all time.

1972

Publications Office

UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
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