The First American Pope

by Donald Michaud

CHAPTER 18

  POPE JOHN XXIV’S ADDRESS AT UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

  ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

  WAR & PEACE

  Is there justification for war? In the history of mankind, there is no major decade in which a war did not occur somewhere around the world. All human life must be valued from conception to death. All wars are inhuman. Those who would wage war have no regard for human life and see it as a necessary evil of inflicting conflict on others for avengement of an attack, or for winning territories. They are guilty of the most heinous of acts against God and humanity. Countries around the world that have or intend to possess the means of creating a nuclear, biological, or other weapon of mass destruction do so with the intent of creating a holocaust through the annihilation of its enemies. No country in the world is safe from sabotage by terrorist, who would want to provoke war for their own purposes, for power, or greed. Those who have these weapons in the name of self-preservation or as a deterrent are only deceiving themselves. Because they exist, the threat of even accidental nuclear, chemical, energized weapons sources can result in a holocaust as a result of human error, whether financial, unintentional, environmental, mechanical, electronic hardware, or software malfunctions. Are such risks justifiable under any circumstance? How can anyone justify the continuation of any kind of such weapons of mass destruction?

  Greater emphasis must continue to me made in resolving world conflicts through negotiations by the United Nations Council, and other agencies around the world whose mission is to thwart aggression. Attainment of world peace must be every nation’s purpose of governance, not aggression in solving conflicts.

  The same concept of peace in families, churches, communities, places of employment, national states, and world regions must seek peaceful co-existence among its members.

  In this day of internet commerce, it has been shown time after time, that criminal activities and security breaches occur widespread around the world. The control or ability of hacking to intercept and disrupt electronic commerce, power grids, air travel, banking, etc. is a viable deterrence in effecting control over rogue members of the worldwide community without resorting to violence and war with countries not abiding by international rules for peaceful coexistence.

  Soldiers in wartime who in defending their nation or world peace, commits acts of war as part of their duty are not violating God’s commandments, except for those who intentionally commit illegal acts of war for their own gratification. The judgment for acts of war atrocities falls on the souls of those who initiated the conflict. All countries should allow soldiers the right to serve in non-combat positions in support of self-defense efforts for reasons of conscientious objectors to combat roles.

  DEATH PENALTY VS ATROCITIES OF WAR

  EUTHANAGIA/MERCY KILLING/SUICIDE

  The most morally egregious acts against mankind and an offense against God the Creator is the destruction of life for whatever reasons. Life is precious from inception to death and under any circumstances should never be taken for granted, nor can it be justified as rational in times of war. Giving up one’s life in order to protect another life is indeed an honorable action, but only as a last resort. Taking one’s own life in order to avoid an agonizing death can never be justified.

  Whoever would use capital punishment as the final means of deterrence should re-evaluate the causes that influenced someone to kill someone else in a capital case trial. Other deterrents such as the use of medications causing either physical limitations or affecting mental judgment would eliminate the possibility of repeat offenses. This would be more acceptable than killing the offender. Medical or behavioral science may provide answers in helping develop alternatives in dealing with capital punishments as deterrence.