Catholic conscientious objector and martyr beatified

Social justice news
October 25, 2007

Catholic conscientious objector and martyr beatified
U.S. Catholic peace organizations have called the beatification of a World War II martyr, a man beheaded by the Nazis for refusing to serve in Hitler’s army, a “teachable moment” for American Catholics, an opportunity to explore Catholic teaching on war while reflecting on the country’s present military engagements around the world.

Jaegerstaetter, who was an Austrian conscientious objector, is scheduled to be beatified in Linz, Austria on Friday, October 26th. The Vatican’s decision to beatify him now represents a call for the Catholic Church in the United States towards a stronger church stance on peace, as well as an affirmation of the responsibility of Catholics to examine their conscience in times of war, according to Catholic peace organizations.

“I just welcome it because we’ve been engaged in a war for four years that many believe is immoral and unjust,” said David Robinson, executive director of Pax Christi USA.

Some Catholic pacifists hope that Catholic teaching on war might follow the path of its moral evolution regarding capital punishment. While capital punishment is still theoretically possible within the tradition of the church, it has become practically unjustifiable, according to Shawn T. Storer, program coordinator at the Catholic Peace Fellowship.

“There are grounds for that conversation to be had,” Storer said. “It’s possible that the Catholic Church might be seen more of as a ‘peace Church.’”

The U.S.-led war in Iraq puts Catholics in a difficult situation, Robinson said, since clerical and lay ministers serve military families and anti-war pacifists alike.

Jaegerstaetter’s story highlights an interesting conflict between Catholic teaching on war and the structure and policy of the U.S military. When a Catholic subscribes to the just war theory, they must consult their own conscience as to whether or not to fight. But if a soldier follows Jaegerstaetter’s model and concludes a war is unjust and opts not to fight “that’s not something that [U.S.] military people have the right to do,” Storer said. His organization’s hotline assists military personnel who struggle with their moral attitudes towards war.

Storer and his colleagues hope the beatification will offer an opportunity for debate on this issue and provide a model for Catholics to turn from violence.

“We do hope that it sparks a renewal and a deeper commitment to resisting the works of war,” said Michael Baxter, national secretary for the Catholic Peace Fellowship and a professor of theology at Notre Dame.

Pope Benedict authorized Jaeggerstaetter’s martyrdom earlier this summer, setting the course for his beatification, and, many believe, his eventual canonization.—Matt Bigelow

For more information on conscientious objection:
Pax Christi – Conscientious Objection and Church Teaching
Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors
Center for Christian Nonviolence – Conscientious Objection

For more information on Franz Jaegerstaetter’s Beatification:
Pax Christi – Events surrounding beatification
Catholic Peace Fellowship
The Sign of Peace – Fall issue scheduled to run story on the beatification

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