NON VIOLENCE

Non violence is more than the absence of violence. It is a positive commitment to return good for evil and seek peace only by means that are themselves peaceful. Such methods have been used by both Christians (e.g., Martin Luther King) and non-Christians (e.g., Mohandas Gandhi). Christian nonviolence seeks to follow Christ by demonstrating love for enemies and enduring injustice without complaint.

Transcending the Old Testament standard of justice, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Ex 21:24, Lv 24:20), Jesus urged his disciples to “turn the other cheek” when attacked (Mt 5:39; cf. Lk 6:29). At his arrest he told a disciple to put away his sword, “for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Mt 26:52). At the same time, he did not condemn military service as such, and the New Testament affirms public authorities’ use of force (Rom 13:4).
Early Christians rejected service in the Roman army, which involved serving an unjust authority and pledging oaths to pagan gods. In each age, some Christians have rejected all use of violence. St. Francis of Assisi preached nonviolence and forbade the lay members of his Third Order to use lethal weapons.

The Church admires this form of witness to Christian charity, while also seeking to ensure defense of the weak and innocent from unjust attack. One may renounce the use of force in one’s own behalf, but defending the innocent is “a grave duty for someone responsible for another’s life, the common good of the family or of the State” (CCC 2265).
The Second Vatican Council praised “all who forgo the use of violence to vindicate their rights and resort to those other means of defense which are available to weaker parties, provided it can be done without harm to the rights and duties of others and of the community” (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes, 78). The Council urged civil authorities to make humane provision for “conscientious objectors” who refuse to bear arms, “provided they accept some other form of community service” (Gaudium et Spes, 79).

See: Authority; Beatitudes; Capital Punishment; Common Good; Deterrence; Homicide; Human Life, Dignity and Sanctity of; Law of Christ; Moral Principles, Christian; War.

Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine. Copyright © 1997, Our Sunday Visitor.

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Last Updated: Sunday, April 01, 2001 01:25:11 PM