US Attacks Iran 2026

[Valerie]

Well then, I would really love to hear a Pope go back and justify the wars the church has been involved in throughout history according to these high standards they place on modern wars.

Popes actually haven’t tried to go back and “justify” past wars in light of modern standards. Especially in the last century, they’ve acknowledged that Christians have used violence wrongly, including in Crusades, and called for repentance. Pope John Paul II specifically asked for forgiveness for the Catholic Church's involvement in these things.

The Catholic church has clearly rejected the idea that violence in the name of faith is justified.

So I don't think you will hear popes try to justify those wars. And that's a good thing.

Were the actions of Clinton, Obama, & Biden also criticized by the Catholic Church? I knew they were pretty vocal about voting for a pro-choice president- not sure what they believe to be worse- pro-abortion or Pro- destroying ways& means of a regime intent on “destroying innocent lives” with their chanting of “death to America” & “death to Israel” and slaughtering tens of thousands of their own people recently. Hard to believe a Pope is okay with that.

[JohnH]

Were the actions of Clinton, Obama, & Biden also criticized by the Catholic Church? I knew they were pretty vocal about voting for a pro-choice president- not sure what they believe to be worse- pro-abortion or Pro- destroying ways& means of a regime intent on “destroying innocent lives” with their chanting of “death to America” & “death to Israel” and slaughtering tens of thousands of their own people recently. Hard to believe a Pope is okay with that.

Past popes did not make statements about war that were quite as direct as this. If the Catholic church is going to continue to make proclamations like this, I hope they take it to its biblical and correct conclusion and continue to teach not just against war, but participating in war and in the use of violence, in general, for Christians.

It is certainly true that the actions of the regime also should be condemned by anyone who is preaching laying down arms, avoiding war, and avoiding violence, considering their guiding principles seem to be "death to America", "death to Israel", and engaging in tactics like using children as human shields.

[mike]

[JohnH]

Kind of funny to see video of J.D. Vance on Press TV.

[Soloist]

the US has ran destroyers into the channel and its obvious tactic to try to say you can’t close the channel and if Iran is foolish enough to attack them, give them all the more justification to squash them militarily.
It will be very interesting to see what comes out of it, but I’m exceedingly doubtful that it will have anything that lasts.

[JohnH]

the US has ran destroyers into the channel and its obvious tactic to try to say you can’t close the channel and if Iran is foolish enough to attack them, give them all the more justification to squash them militarily.
It will be very interesting to see what comes out of it, but I’m exceedingly doubtful that it will have anything that lasts.

Overall, this is asymmetric warfare where it's quite easy to shut down the ability for peacetime civilian shipping. On the other hand, if Iran does so, it is making itself more of a pariah and its problems with food imports and water will only worsen.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Were the actions of Clinton, Obama, & Biden also criticized by the Catholic Church? I knew they were pretty vocal about voting for a pro-choice president- not sure what they believe to be worse- pro-abortion or Pro- destroying ways& means of a regime intent on “destroying innocent lives” with their chanting of “death to America” & “death to Israel” and slaughtering tens of thousands of their own people recently. Hard to believe a Pope is okay with that.

For a fact, the Catholic Church in the United States was highly critical of Biden, to the point that it became clear that if he actually went to church that they would refuse him communion. This was reported in many of the papers, some other Catholic politicians like Nancy Pelosi were in the same boat.

So it's a real stretch to think that the actions of Biden in particular was not criticized by the Catholic Church. Obama and Clinton were not Catholic. Therefore, my suspicion is that the Catholic Church didn't feel it had grounds to criticize them, but Biden, absolutely.

[Szdfan]

Were the actions of Clinton, Obama, & Biden also criticized by the Catholic Church? I knew they were pretty vocal about voting for a pro-choice president- not sure what they believe to be worse- pro-abortion or Pro- destroying ways& means of a regime intent on “destroying innocent lives” with their chanting of “death to America” & “death to Israel” and slaughtering tens of thousands of their own people recently. Hard to believe a Pope is okay with that.

For a fact, the Catholic Church in the United States was highly critical of Biden, to the point that it became clear that if he actually went to church that they would refuse him communion. This was reported in many of the papers, some other Catholic politicians like Nancy Pelosi were in the same boat.

So it's a real stretch to think that the actions of Biden in particular was not criticized by the Catholic Church. Obama and Clinton were not Catholic. Therefore, my suspicion is that the Catholic Church didn't feel it had grounds to criticize them, but Biden, absolutely.

Popes have also criticized other wars the US had fought. Pope John Paul II was a major critic of the Iraq War.

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5130492

Pope John Paul II has been looking forward to a private conversation with President Bush since before the Iraq war started, and Vatican insiders say he plans to give the American president a piece of his mind.

John Paul spoke out publicly against the war more than any other world leader and in the months leading up to the conflict the Vatican became a diplomatic stage for all the parties involved.

Back then the pope’s pleas fell on deaf ears at the White House, and even his personal envoy, Cardinal Pio Laghi, was given short shrift. But now the pope has a chance to talk to the president face to face, and Bush will be forced to listen.

[JohnH]

For a fact, the Catholic Church in the United States was highly critical of Biden, to the point that it became clear that if he actually went to church that they would refuse him communion. This was reported in many of the papers, some other Catholic politicians like Nancy Pelosi were in the same boat.

Did this actually happen? I was under the impression no such action was taken against either of them.

[temporal1]

For a fact, the Catholic Church in the United States was highly critical of Biden, to the point that it became clear that if he actually went to church that they would refuse him communion. This was reported in many of the papers, some other Catholic politicians like Nancy Pelosi were in the same boat.

Did this actually happen? I was under the impression no such action was taken against either of them.

The plight of Catholic politicians with their Catholicism has been discussed in another topic:

“Political party - demands?”
https://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.php?t=1101