Comparing Apples and Oranges

Dialogue is essential in our quest to see fulfilled what we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done.”  If we are to do our part towards “thy kingdom come,” we need to help bring the world to the truth that is God’s.  This is where dialogue is necessary.

However, real dialogue can be very difficult now (see “Seeking Real Dialogue”).  We find ourselves far apart on important issues.  The polarization continues to worsen. 

What makes dialogue difficult?  It is the different perspectives we hold.  We focus on different issues and we sometimes fail to see the perspective of others.  Sometimes this is from our weaknesses.  May the Lord help us through our weaknesses.  Unfortunately, there are also people who refuse to be open to the perspective of others.  Ultimately, what we all need to do is to ask God to help us see the world and the many issues we face as He sees them. 

For instance, consider the current war between Israel and Hamas (I have written several times in the last year about this – the articles can be found under the category “Just War Theory-Real Life Application” on this blog).  I think most people would agree that Israel has a “just cause,” the first criteria of , namely the attacks on October 7, 2023 by Hamas, to attack Hamas.  Israel is a sovereign nation (third criteria of Just War Theory – “legitimate authority) with a right to defend itself.  Those who side with Israel in favor of their strikes on Hamas focus on Israel’s right to defend itself.  That’s one side of the discussion.

Those who are against Israel’s strikes on Hamas can turn to the second criteria of Just War Theory, “comparative justice” and the sixth criteria, “proportionality.”  Those against the strikes by Israel against Hamas understand that it has gone too far.  There are too many innocent people being killed.  I do not deny Israel’s claims that Hamas leaders are hiding among innocent people.  There just needs to be another way.  The costs are proving too great.

This brings me to the fifth criteria of Just War Theory, the “probability of success.”  What does success even mean?  Israel has stated its intention to eliminate Hamas.  Then what?  Will just not another group take its place?    They assassinated the top leader of Hamas on Iranian soil recently.  What was accomplished?  Hamas has already named a new leader.  Now, we are told that Iran is preparing to attack Israel.

Before I digress too far, my point today is not to debate whether or not the attacks by Israel against Hamas are justified.  My point today is to show how the two sides, those for or against the Israeli strikes, look at the issue from different perspectives.  The only way to properly consider the strikes is to look at all the criteria of Just War Theory.

This is just one example of the different perspectives held by people on important issues and the difficulty of real dialogue.

Another example is the controversial issue of abortion.  Those who think abortion should be legal and readily available argue from the perspective of choice and freedom.  While they claim to be pro-choice, they do not allow for the free choice of those who disagree with them (see my article, “Pro-Choice or Not?”).

If freedom and the right to choice is the most important criteria in decision making for a person, they have a point, not that I agree, in the case of rape.  The woman did not choose to be raped.  However, my view on abortion is not based on choice and freedom. 

If a child in its mother’s womb is seen only as a part of the mother’s body, then, when the mother’s health is at risk, they have a point regarding abortion.  Again, I disagree, but I recognize their point.  However, my view on abortion is not based on choice and freedom.

My view, and the view of all who are pro-life, on abortion is based on the answer to one question, when does life begin.

As long as life begins at conception, then the child is alive and has equal rights to their mother.  It has a right to life.    Rape is a terrible thing that should never happen but the baby is innocent.  When the mother’s health is at risk, she has a right to medical treatment.  She needs to talk to her doctor about the risks of that treatment for herself and for her baby.  Abortion is not medical treatment.  It is the ending of a life.  Miscarriages may happen but those in not an abortion.

I could go about our Catholic teaching on abortion but that is not my point today.  My point is to show the different perspectives.  In this case, it is the perspective of choice vs. when does life begin.  It has been my experience that those who think abortion should be legal and readily available do not want to talk about when life begins.  I pray they would talk about when life begins.

Of course, they can say that I, and the Catholic Church, ignore the issue of choice.  We do not ignore it.  We just see the greater issue of knowing that the baby in the womb is alive as the most important issue.  I do not ignore the mother as an individual person nor do I want to ignore her right to privacy.  Roe v. Wade was decided based on a woman’s right to privacy for her medical treatment.  Yes, she has a right to have her medical treatments remain private but her right to privacy does not trump out the baby as being alive from the moment of conception.

I would not be surprised to learn that some people read this article and want to respond in favor of choice.  If they do so, then they have missed my point today.  I have listened to their perspective and done my best to address it (you can read this in my various pro-life writings).  I pray that if they want to respond to what I have said, that in the spirit of real dialogue, they would be willing to talk about when life begins.  If someone wants to respond in favor of the Israeli strikes against Hamas, then I ask that their response address my concerns that too many innocent people are being killed as well as my concern of a large war with Iran.

We need to look at each issue not solely based on individual concerns.  We need to discern the issues in solidarity with all humanity. 

Of course, people disagree on whether or not God exists.  There are people who think there is no universal truth.  The list can go on.

Please pray that we all see the issues before us as God sees them and respond accordingly.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff