Questions / Living the faith

Is war ever just?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Catholic Answers

Video: When and How Can War Be Just?, Catholic Answers Live, published Jul 13, 2017. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Only under strict conditions. That’s the “just war” doctrine, and the bar is high. CCC 2309

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

Legitimate defense by military force must meet rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy, all at once: lasting and grave damage by the aggressor, all other means shown impractical, serious prospects of success, and no worse evils produced. CCC 2309

Our words

The Church’s instinct is peace. The just-war conditions exist to make war harder, not easier.

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Sources on this page

How we know · 1 Catechism paragraph

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2309 (official text on vatican.va).

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