Is There a Christian Pacifism?

Extract

The perusal of a copy of The Christian Pacifist which seems to have something of a Christian inspiration suggests the question ‘Is there a Christian Pacifism? ‘The issue for May, 1944, written before the Second Front was an actuality, contained this passage: ‘Through the deafening noise and blinding smoke let us try to see what is happening. What really are these brave events? Homes stricken desolate by grief! Children for ever rendered fatherless with all the thwarting and distorting consequences in character! The most precious creations of affection and long care smashed clumsily to formless fragments ! God’s noblest works defaced and fouled! The very life-blood of the family of nations poured out in mad and irremediable havoc? And a great heap of bitter hatred and lust for vengeance towering still higher than the material ruins ! Here is fear exalted over faith; evil worshipped in the place of good.’

Though this apostrophe may have a tinge of that ‘sentimental pacifism ‘which Pope Pius XI. warned us must not be confused with the ‘Peace of Christ,’ yet it has also some resemblance to papal exhortations themselves, especially those of our Holy Father Pope Pius XII. during the war. It even contains in brief his reasons for appealing for peace. But like all arguments that are not quite in tune with sound philosophy, it begs the question, and that in its concluding sentence.