The head of Catholic chaplains in the US military has questioned the morality of the country’s campaign in Iran.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who leads the Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services USA, told CBS News that while Iran “was a threat with nuclear arms”, waging war on the theocratic state amounted to “compensating for a threat before the threat is actually realised”.
The Just War Theory, rooted in the teachings of Saints Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, provides a framework for determining when war is morally justifiable and how it should be conducted. It says that war should be a last resort, but can be used to correct serious wrongs, with legitimate authority, right intent, and proportionality.
“The Lord Jesus certainly brought a message of peace, and also – I think war is always a last resort,” Archbishop Timothy told CBS. “I’m not making a judgment about that because I really don’t know. But I do think that it’s hard to cast this war – you know – as something that would be sponsored by the Lord.”
The Archbishop's comments come amid political divisions over the war, particularly among religious supporters of Donald Trump. The White House argues Iran’s history of terrorism, missile programme, and nuclear activity justify action, while Democrats call it a “war of choice”.
Asked about US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s call for Americans to pray “every day, on bended knee” for a military victory “in the name of Jesus Christ”, the Catholic head said it was “a little problematic in the sense” that Jesus preached peace. He added: “They may have information that led them to think that that was the only choice they had.”
He added that he aligns with Pope Leo XIV, who has urged negotiation and an “off-ramp” in the conflict. Archbishop Timothy went on to advise Catholic service members to “do as little harm as you can – and to try [to] preserve innocent lives”, noting that military rules allow objection only to war in general, not specific actions.
“The question might be, would generals or admirals have space to perhaps, say, ‘Can we look at this a different way?’ But having spoken to some of them too, they’re also in the same dilemma.”