One term that occurs all too often in modern news stories is “collateral damage.” When the military launches a strike, innocent bystanders pay the price for being too close to the target. The military justifies this because they took out the guilty party. This is the exact opposite of the Biblical challenge of Abraham toward God. “Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty?” For Abraham protecting the innocent has a higher value than condemning the guilty. This perspective is enshrined in Catholic Just War theory. (Whether Just War Theory is consistent with Catholic Social Teaching is the topic for another day.) Combatants are legitimate targets, innocent bystanders are not. As this plays out on the national scale there are also personal implications. While we can condemn actions or policies that are against justice the “collateral damage” of condemning people for their views wounds the Body of Christ.
JUNE302025
By Church Staff
