In the last few days Vice President Vance has made critical comments about Pope Leo in the media. saying he should stick to “matters of morality” and implying that the Pope doesn’t understand theology as well as Vance himself does.
These comments come because the Pope has been critical of the Administration’s current war with Iran.
Mr Vance claims that the Pope isn’t applying “1,000 years of just war theory”. Mr. Vance should be aware that Just War theory began roughly 1,500 years ago. And the first condition necessary for a war to be just in the eyes of the Church is that it must be defensive in nature. Second, it must not involve non-combatants. Third, it must be limited in scope to want is strictly necessary. (see Augustine). While there are a few other criteria, I ask have these criteria been met?
Secondly, Mr. Vance said the Pope should stick to speaking about morality. I honest an honest question, when has the Pope not done this? I think I have heard or read most everything he has said about the war in Iran and I have yet to see anything that has criticized the administration on any grounds other than morality. And some of his harshest criticisms came after President Trump threatened “a civilization will die” which is a comment that is certainly outside Christian morality.
I am not criticizing the Administration’s policy other than to say they have offered no consistent moral justification for the present conflict. What I am criticizing is Mr. Vance’s comments that are either completely ignorant of the topic or fraudulent. Considering how wrong he was a year ago on his understanding of Ordo Amoris (two popes and several bishops condemned he statements on the doctrine) I think he is woefully ignorant on matters of theology.
Vance (a Catholic) should do better. The Administration who repeatedly makes claims about serving God and being friends of Christians needs to do better. This is one of those times when theology has legs, when our morality becomes practical. What is Jesus’ morality and how do we emulate it? what does it mean to go the extra mile for a Roman soldier? What does it mean to love your enemies? What does it mean to pray for those who revile you? What does it mean to be a peacemaker? What does it mean to hunger and thirst after righteousness? What does it mean to care for the stranger and foreigner? These are the questions of morality that need answered.
If the Administration wants to justify the war on economic grounds, or or political grounds, ok. But do not claim that the Pope should stick to morality when he is saying that a war you aren’t trying to ground in morality is immoral. And don’t say he doesn’t understand theology when you’ve never taken a theology class and then proceed to demonstrate a complete lack of knowledge about the theology you are trying to use. Instead if the Administration wants to reflect Christian ideals (as they especially the Secretary of War and VP) have claimed, Then instead of running from the above questions of morality which individuals like Pope Leo level against them, they need to provide comprehensive answers of how their ideas fit into these questions. Or perhaps they should just remain silent and not make overblown claims about Christian faith and morality.
Squinting in the Light 
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