Moral Absentees

But I say unto you that ye resist not evil. . .

-Matthew 5:39

On these and other words of Jesus some Christians have based a stand of absolute pacifism. Last week the Roman Catholic Church made it clear that Catholic conscientious objectors are theologically in error.

The interpretation of doctrine came from the church's sharpest intellectual spearhead, Rome's official Jesuit fortnightly, Civilta Cattolica. The lead article in its current issue is an attack by fiery-eyed, black-haired Jesuit Father Antonio Messineo on a bill recently introduced in the Italian Chamber of Deputies that would legalize conscientious objection. Writes Father Messineo:

"When the fathers of the early Church advised the young against embracing military careers in Roman legions, they based their advice on necessity of avoiding idolatrous service to the emperor--never on the individual right of avoiding combat against the state's aggressors . .. The Old Testament glorified war enterprises such as that of the Maccabees, while hundreds of soldiers were baptized in Jordan by John the Baptist . . . Neither did Christ warn the good centurion against fighting."

The Sermon on the Mount, with its advice not to resist evil, to turn the other cheek and to love one's enemies, according to Father Messineo, was meant for individuals only, not collective groups. "It is the inalienable right of a collectivity to defend its integrity and existence against unjust aggression . . . The citizen has the duty to render the society to which he belongs . . . the indispensable service of picking up arms and fighting to the utmost of his fully exploited capabilities in defense of his community menaced by unjust aggression." Conscientious objectors, he warned, "are guilty of Lucifer-like sin of pride or of grave error or of complete misunderstanding of God's laws ..."

In case there should be any thought that Father Messineo was merely venting his own theological opinions, a Vatican" spokesman said: "Messineo's article has rendered the Church's stand absolutely clear . . . But it is certain that if this type of moral absenteeism . . . were to become widespread . . . the Pope would then intervene and give Messineo his full backing . . ."

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