The nuclear defence system is a threat to a potential enemy, and involves a willingness. in certain circumstances, to murder the innocent. It is condemned in Catholic morality.
The Second VatiCan Council stated: "Any act of war, arbitrarily aiming at the destruction of whole cities or at the indiscriminate destruction of large areas, together with their inhabitants, is .a crime against God and man .himself."
It is said the defence expenditure of some £3,500 millions is justified in order to protect Britain. According to Mr Duncan Sandys, sometime Minister of Defence, it is not possible to defend the civilian population.
We cannot afford to participate in the arms race. Philip Noel-Baker has rightly said, "The arms race is killing everyday all round the world, babies are dying in their mothers' arms because science has been made the prostitute of war. They are dying because they and their mothers don't have enough to eat."
Our hope of survival express
Rome whose authority Christ Himself guarantees. We are not III liberty to he "right", "left" or "centre." We are either Catholic or not.
(Fr) Rodger Charles, SJ Catholic Institute of Social Ethics, 114 Mount Street, London, WI .
ed by your correspondent (Mrs) Christina Arber (June 21) rests in a policy of non-violence.
37 Northiam, Woodside Park, London, N12 7ET.