My Confession, I Supported War, Violence & The Police State. No More

Mandeville, LA  – Some listeners and site followers cannot believe that I am not “all in” against “the (Ferguson, MO) mob” (one emailer informed me the protestors in Ferguson are “lower than animals”). I am also, certainly, not “all-in” against the police (police officers CERTAINLY have legitimate, dangerous roles to play in our society) and have never taken a position on the National Guard’s presence because that is a political question for another topic. Let me try and further explain my thoughts on a few items that many have voiced their displeasure over.

I have answered to “conservatives” for most of my radio/tv career assuming they were “always right because they weren’t evil, Libs.”  This included blindly cheering, among other things, foreign interventions, both invasions of Iraq, torture, rendition, wire-tapping of American citizens and the rise of drug war inspired, warrior cops. Well, I am through with that sinful, lethal, ill-informed devotion to the fallacies of political parties and their secular leaders and pray for forgiveness (and them) everyday. The same due-diligent study that separated me from those beliefs is now creating another separation though I pray it doesn’t separate me from you. I still make time every day to read the works and writings of the Founders and other important Americans and impart them to the show and this site nearly everyday. Conservatism is still a lovely word, and worthy of our efforts to clarify and promote its beautiful and lasting nature, I cannot say as much for many current “conservatives” or what most folks think “conservatism” is.  However, I do answer to a “conservative”; a Force I like to call The Conservator of the Universe and all It is: God & His Holy Trinity. As Tolkkein imparted through his fiction, there is no greater conservative because He  qui est omnia facta sunt.

However, I do answer to a “conservative”; a Force I like to call The Conservator of the Universe and all It is

Through his Saints, we have a very clear idea of what kind of violence and war, if any, we are to pursue and when and under what circumstances, in order to please Him. If one’s faith in Him and resolve to pursue the sanctifying Grace needed to get to Heaven is reverent then the fear of what men may say or do to one for following this course is replaced by a reverence and love for what His heavenly rewards are; in other words, some of these paths are not up for debate or my interpretation. One priest I am fond of puts it this way on articles of Catholic doctrine “I am in sales not management.”  This is where humility, that most precious and vigorous of virtues comes in. Our Lord told us in a parable to inspire humility in us all: “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” I have also heard it stated from a Saint, “…humility is knowing your place.” My place is not in questioning Augustine, Aquinas, the Church canon they helped write or the infallible word of the Gospel, there’s enough of that to power Hell for millenniae. In sum, you who take offense at some of my change of heart or opinion please note that is not aimed at you; it’s aimed at making an attempt to restore the lost integrity and virtue of the old order of Christendom, something I hope every Christian views as a net positive.

If you are interested, the following is part of what I am reading and praying over to understand what constitutes a proper response to the emotional, trying events of our day like Ferguson, MO and Erbil, Iraq. Below are the pertinent parts of St Augustine’s (my patron Saint) jus ad bellum (Just War Theory) as it applies to the police AND those the police are to safeguard. – Dona nobis pacem

All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war.Despite this admonition of the Church, it sometimes becomes necessary to use force to obtain the end of justice. This is the right, and the duty, of those who have responsibilities for others, such as civil leaders and police forces. While individuals may renounce all violence those who must preserve justice may not do so, though it should be the last resort, “once all peace efforts have failed.” [Cf. Vatican II,Gaudium et spes 79, 4]

As with all moral acts the use of force to obtain justice must comply with three conditions to be morally good. First, the act must be good in itself. The use of force to obtain justice is morally licit in itself. Second, it must be done with a good intention, which as noted earlier must be to correct vice, to restore justice or to restrain evil, and not to inflict evil for its own sake. Thirdly, it must be appropriate in the circumstances. An act which may otherwise be good and well motivated can be sinful by reason of imprudent judgment and execution.

In this regard Just War doctrine gives certain conditions for the legitimate exercise of force, all of which must be met:

“1. the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;

2. all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;

3. there must be serious prospects of success;

4. the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition” [CCC 2309].

The responsibility for determining whether these conditions are met belongs to “the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.” The Church’s role consists in enunciating clearly the principles, in forming the consciences of men and in insisting on the moral exercise of just war.

TheKingDude

Host of the Mike Church Show on The Veritas Radio Network's CRUSADE Channel & Founder of the Veritas Radio Network. Formerly, of Sirius/XM's Patriot channel 125. The show began in March of 2003 exclusively on Sirius and remains "the longest running radio talk show in satellite radio history".

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