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Resolution

Imperatives

of

Peace

1

IV,
November 16, 1972

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

OF

CATHOLIC BISHOPS



This is a critical moment in the history of

the Vietnam war. Intensive efforts on the part

of our government as well as other parties

involved appear to be refining the final de-

tails of a settlement which will end the

fighting. Recalling our exhortation a year ago

to our nation's leaders and to leaders of

all nations to "bring the war to an end with

no further delay/' we pray earnestly to
Christ, the Prince of Peace, for a successful

outcome of the present negotiations: that

is, for a just and lasting peace with stability

and freedom for all the nations and peoples

of Southeast Asia. We couple this prayer with
a plea to both sides for an end to bombing

and terrorism which are causing such loss

of civilian life and destruction of the land

itself. Indeed, a particularly anguishing and,

in many cases, immoral aspect of this war

has been the suffering and death inflicted on

non-combatants.

It is vitally important that Americans now

turn their attention to the task of reconcilia-

tion not only in Southeast Asia but also in

our country. This war can well leave a resi-

due of bitterness which could poison our

national life for years to come. This must

not be allowed to happen. We must instead
seek to resolve our differences in a spirit

of mutual understanding and respect.

Special attention must be given to the

young people of our nation whom the war

has profoundly affected in so many ways,

material, psychological, and spiritual. Our re-

turning veterans and especially the wounded

and the prisoners of war, must be given every

possible consideration and assistance to en-

able them to reintegrate their personal and

professional lives into civilian society. Our

sincere compassion should be extended to

the families of men killed in the fighting.

The dead, the maimed, and the missing in

action should have constant remembrance

in our prayers. Those who continue to serve

in the military should also receive the moral

and material support of the nation.

In a spirit of reconciliation, all possible

consideration must be given to those young

men who, because of sincere conscientious



belief, refused to participate in the war. A

year ago, we urged "that the civil authori-

ties grant generous pardon of convictions in-

curred under the Selective Service Act, with

the understanding that sincere conscientious

objectors should remain open in principle

to some form of service to the community."

(Resolution on Southeast Asia
,
National Con-

ference of Catholic Bishops, November,

1971). We again urge government officials
and all Americans to respond in this spirit

to the conspicuous need to find a solution

to the problems of these men. Generosity

represents the best of the American tradi-

tion and should characterize our response to

this urgent challenge.

Generosity must also mark our participa-

tion in efforts to rebuild the war-torn na-

tions and societies of Southeast Asia. There

can be no doubt that the people of North

and South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

have suffered a tragedy far greater than ours.

The dramatic and successful programs of

aid and reconstruction carried out by the

United States following World War II pro-

vide a model for what is demanded of us

now. We must be unstinting in the expend-
ing of our moral, material and technical

resources and skills on behalf of the people

of Southeast Asia who have suffered so

grievously.

Finally, we believe that the imperatives of

peace now demand intensive study of many

complex and pressing moral issues. The

return of peace should not cause a slacken-

ing of attention to these matters. The ex-

perience of recent years amply illustrates

the fact that grave ethical and moral ques-

tions regarding warfare remain unresolved.

While recognizing the right of self-defense,

we are nevertheless convinced that war is

not an apt means of settling disputes. The

quest for viable means of preventing war

and for effective alternative methods of

resolving conflicts—through such agencies
as the United Nations—is an urgent impera-
tive. Technological skill in the science of

war must not outstrip humane skill in the

arts of peace. Church agencies, including

the United States Catholic Conference, Cath-



olic educational institutions, diocesan offices

for justice and peace and organizations of

the laity should in the months and years to

come take a leading role in the effort to

work for international justice and to find

ways to ensure that peace—which, God
willing, is returning to Southeast Asia and

also to the United States—will be the
permanent condition of human life in all na-

tions and for all time.

1972

Publications Office

UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

1312 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20005