Think You ‘Know’ Catholicism? The Historical Stances On Self-Defense and Immigration Might Blindside You

Just recently Pope Francis tweeted the following statement:
“Do we really want peace? Then let’s ban all weapons so we don’t have to live in fear of war.”

Meanwhile, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a brief to the Supreme Court in the case of Trump v. Hawaii, claiming that the Trump Administration’s ban for people migrating from several Muslim countries was religious discrimination.

Such opinions are just more of the progressivism that has infiltrated the Roman Catholic Church (and other churches for that matter). And believe it or not, they actually contradict the Catholic Church’s stance on these topics. In fact, such topics are discussed in John Zmirak’s book The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism.

First, Zmirak mentions that the church’s teachings justify war and weapons, as stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which says that self-defense (which war and weaponry are mostly based on) is not only a right but also a duty, particularly since it is for the common good. Such a stance was held by the Catholic Church throughout its history. Thus, Catholicism approves of self-defense (i.e. the right to bear arms). It should also be noted that one cannot be a Catholic and be a pacifist.

Second, Zmirak states that the Catechism of the Catholic Church does put significant conditions when it comes to accepting immigrants, despite what Pope Francis and other church officials have said. In addition, immigrants have an obligation to obey and respect the laws of the nation they have arrived in.

Zmirak also points out the consequences of admitting potentially dangerous immigrants with no questions asked. The refugee issue in Europe is a case in point, in which migrants from the Muslim world have settled in various European countries in order to live off welfare and cause havoc (thus carrying out their duty of jihad). But Pope Francis seems to be turning a blind eye to such a reality, especially when in 2016 he chose to use the papal plane to transport three Muslim families to Rome instead of a pair of Christian siblings (whom were previously told they would be taken to Rome). It is unclear why Pope Francis and his entourage reneged on such a promise. Perhaps it was done inadvertently. Perhaps the Pope changed his mind. At any rate, such action demonstrates that he is apparently pandering to the Muslim world.

In conclusion, the stance of Pope Francis and other church officials on the matters of self-defense and immigration are the opposite of what the church teachings are (which cannot be solemnly contradicted, as Zmirak mentions in his book). It should also be noted that such views are not binding on Catholics, as is the case with Pope Francis’s views on economics or the environment. In fact, one can say that, by taking such stances on self-defense or immigration, Pope Francis and church officials with similar views are disregarding church teachings in the same way that the Obama Administration has disregarded the Constitution.

photo credit: Catholic Church (England and Wales) Morning Mass by the Altar at the Tomb of Saint John Paul celebrated by Bishops from Bielarus at the end of Ad Limina Visit in Vatican via photopin (license)