The Morality of the War with Iran

It is important to note that this article was posted at 7:30 am, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, a little over twelve hours before President Trump’s deadline for Iran to reach a peace agreement and open the Strait of Hormuz.  This article considers how Jesus calls us to act. 

Update as of April 8, 2026 5:55 am – We give thanks that a ceasefire agreement was reached before the deadline yesterday. However, it is very tenuous cease-free agreement and only for two weeks. We need to continue to pray for peace. The reminder of the article remains as originally posted.

The United States and Israel have been conducting military attacks against Iran for six weeks now.  During this time, Israel has also been conducting attacks in Lebanon. 

Archbishop Broglio, the Archbishop of the Military Archdiocese, was interviewed for Face the Nation on CBS this weekend (see “Archbishop Broglio: War should always be ‘a last resort’”  Daniel Payne, Catholic News Agency, April 4, 2026.  https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/archbishop-broglio-war-should-be-always-a-last-resort).  During the interview Archbishop Broglio said that the publicly available information would indicate that the present war is not justified.   

As we celebrated the Easter Triduum, Pope Leo XIV continued to call for peace.  He reminds us that we must not let fear and mistrust take over (see “Pope at Easter Vigil: Don’t be paralyzed by mistrust, fear.”  Catholic Courier from Carol Gantz, CNS.  April 5, 2026.  https://catholiccourier.com/articles/pope-at-easter-vigil-dont-be-paralyzed-by-mistrust-fear/?utm_medium=email).   He will lead a vigil for peace on April 11^th.  The following day the Catholic Church will celebrate the Second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.  While nations have a right to defend themselves, true and lasting peace comes more from mercy than from aggression.    

Aggression often simply brings more aggression.  Is Iran a threat to its neighbors?  Is it a threat to the world?  We have been told for years that it is.  However, prior to the bombings last year by Israel and the United States against Iran, I do not know of any actual direct attacks by Iran against anyone.  There have been attacks by groups that we are told are supported by Iran.  Those attacks have been limited. 

The present attacks are supposed to stop Iran from being a threat.  Yet, it seems clear to me that there have been more attacks by Iran since the U.S. and Israel began the present attacks than before.  It seems the U.S. and Israel attacks against Iran have increased the fighting, not decreased it.   

Yes, Iran is a threat to peace but they have been contained for years.  War should only be a last resort. 

On Good Friday, in the reading of the Passion of Jesus as told in the Gospel of John, we heard that Peter used a sword to cut off the ear of the high priest’s slave.  Did Jesus approve this?  Does Jesus approve of violence? 

No!  Jesus told Peter to put his sword back into its scabbard.  In Matthew’s telling of Jesus’ Passion read on Palm Sunday, Jesus says, “for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”  Violence brings more violence.   

Jesus uses a different type of sword that is described in Hebrews 4:12, “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.”  If we want the world to become a better place, we first need to allow the word of God to penetrate us and to transform us.   

Then, if we want true and lasting peace, we should know that it comes from sharing the gospel and loving our enemies.  How many times before have I written that hate only brings more hate but that love can change the world? 

As we look ahead to Divine Mercy Sunday, in the gospel we will hear how the disciples gathered in a locked room for fear of the Jews.  There, following his Resurrection, Jesus will come to his disciples and say to them twice, “Peace be with you.”  A week later, Jesus will say to them a third time, “Peace be with you.”  The peace of which Jesus speaks is something much deeper than no military conflicts.  It is his peace dwelling deep in our hearts. 

When we seek war, we block ourselves off from the peace of Christ.  We allow anger, one of the seven deadly sins, to take over us.  I am afraid that the evil one has been allowed to take over.  The United States and Israel have moved from a defensive stance to become the aggressor.   

Before the present military attacks began, President Trump spoke of helping the good people of Iran to take control of their own country from a bad regime.  Now, President Trump speaks of destroying every power generating plant in the entire country of Iran such that they will never be able to rebuild.  It seems hate has taken over.  We pray for peace. 

Jesus reveals a different path.  He could have called for legions of angels for war if that was God’s Will (see Matthew’s Passion).  He did not.  Instead, He accepted Crucifixion to show a different path forward.  Military war is not the answer.  The evil one enjoys war.  The children of God seek peace. 

As we look ahead to Divine Mercy Sunday, I think of the good thief in Luke’s telling of Jesus’ Passion.  He admits his crimes, recognizes Jesus as innocent, repents, and asks for his mercy when he says to Jesus from his own cross, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  Jesus replies with mercy, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” 

Jesus saw repentance in the good thief’s heart.  Do the present attacks against Iran allow the possibility of repentance from Iran or do they only encourage hatred?  I ask the Lord to help the leaders of Israel and the United States (and the leaders of every other nation who are engaging in military violence) to look deep into the hearts of the other side as well as their own hearts and seek peace. 

It is only when we love our enemies, that we open ourselves to real dialogue as Pope Francis wrote of in Fratelli Tutti (cf. My article “Seeking Real Dialogue”).  If we want any “talks” to have a chance of success, we need to open ourselves to change on our part too.  We need to make sure we are not giving other nations reasons to attack us.  As Pope St. Paul VI said in his message for the Day of Peace, January 1, 1972, “If you want Peace, work for Justice.”  If we want peace, we must make sure every single person in the world is treated fairly and has what they need. 

We need to be willing to beat our swords into plowshares (see Micah 4:3, Joel 4:10).  If we want things to change, we must be willing to take the first step towards peace. 

Instead of being a bully using military might to get our way, we need to be willing to turn the other cheek (see Matthew 5:39).  We have a right to defend ourselves but it sometimes takes a stronger person to resist the fight than it does to enter the fight. 

To date, I have refrained from offering my own judgment on whether or not the present United States and Israeli attacks against Iran are justified.  Inspired by Archbishop Broglio’s comments in his interview on Face the Nation and Pope Leo XIV’s call for peace, I will now say I too do not see the attacks as a “just war.”  Here I offer the following comments based on Just War Theory.  These are not meant as definitive comments.  Rather, I offer them as points to ponder based on publicly available information.  

Just Cause – Iran has sought nuclear weapons.  According to public reports, it has sponsored groups identified as terrorists in attacks against other nations like Israel.  Such efforts do need to be contained.  They have been.  The question is “are the present attacks necessary at this time? 

Comparative Justice – The response must be in proportion to the original attacks.  It seems to me that the present Israeli and U.S. military attacks have moved from defensive action to offensive strikes. 

Legitimate Authority – Does the United States and/or Israel have a right to take action on their own?  Israel has been the “victim” of terrorism sponsored by Iran.  They have a right to defend themselves within reason and proportion.  The United States has not been attacked as a nation.  I think there have been strikes against U.S. forces but those have been very limited.  There have also been strikes against commercial vessels.  These attacks on commercial vessels would be a matter for the United Nations to lead any response. 

Right intention – Both Israel and United States need to think long and hard about their true intentions.  Are they based on defense or hate?  At times, we have been told different reasons for the United States involvement.  The U.S. government should have given clear reasons to show its true intent before starting attacks, not different reasons at different times. 

Probability of Success – First, it needs to be clear what the Israel and United States intentions are.  Then, there needs to be careful reflection on the possibility of succeeding in any good intentions.  One needs to ask what it really means to succeed.  The United States seeks regime change.  What is there to guarantee a new regime will be any better?  How many years did we spend in Iraq?  How many years did we spend in Afghanistan only to have the Taliban return to power when we withdrew?   

Proportionality – President Trump has threatened to destroy every power plant in Iran.  This is not reasonable.  Some people have begun to ask if such action would constitute war crimes.  How many innocent people will be hurt by the power outages?  How many innocent people have already been killed or injured?  How many more will be?  How much property of innocent people has been destroyed?  God cares about the innocent and hears the cry of the poor. We need to do the same. 

Last Resort – Sanctions have been tried and diplomacy has been tried but has the point where war is necessary really been reached?  It seems not. 

What are we to do?  I point to a verse from the Bible that I have used in recent months, “First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.  This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4). 

Let us pray for all “kings,” the leaders of all nations, may they work for true and lasting peace, peace that requires us to love our enemies.  Jesus died for us while we were still sinners (see Romans 5:8).  We need to seek God’s Will in all things.  We need to let the Peace of Christ reign in our hearts. 

Peace, 

Fr. Jeff