The year 2020 opened with the possibility of military conflict between the United States and Iran, following a U.S drone strike that killed the Iranian terrorist and military leader, Major General Qassem Soleimani. Amid the ensuing tensions between Iran and the United States there was a surge of alarm over the possibility of America going to war. False rumors were spread that the U.S. may reinstate the military draft, and the question of whether the government would be drafting citizens into service spiked over social media and the web. In fact, the U.S. Selective Service website temporarily shut down due to this high volume of traffic.
Though the rumor about a draft was unfounded, it raises important questions about national defense, conscription, war, the common good, and the obligations and duties of citizenship for all Catholic Americans. Thankfully, the Church in her wisdom gives guidance to nations in the event that armed conflict should arise.
In this lesson your students will:
Explore what the Catechism teaches about national defense and the obligations of a citizen.
Learn the conditions put forward by the Church that legitimize armed conflict.
Understand the distinction between the Selective Service and a draft.
Examine the respective roles of citizens and governments in promoting and protecting the common good.
“Fake text messages about a military draft are being sent to Americans, the US Army warns,” Business Insider, found at sophiaonline.org/FakeDraftWarning.
Catechism of the Catholic Church nos. 2308, 2309, 2310, 2311 & 2312
First, have your students read Catechism of the Catholic Church nos. 2308, 2309, 2310, 2311 & 2312.
Next, have them complete the Focus and Reflection Questions.
When your students have completed the focus and reflection questions, review and discuss the correct answers.
The Military Draft
Have your students read the articles “Fake text messages about a military draft are being sent to Americans, the US Army warns,” from Business Insider, and “Selective Service,” from usa.gov.
Next, arrange your students into groups of three or four. Have them compare the articles with what they read in the Catechism, using the discussion questions from the handout The Military Draft.
When groups have finished discussing, call on groups to share and discuss with the class key points from their conversation. Lead a conversation on the common good of society; what it is, whether it is worth defending, and at what price.
Answer Key
Catechism of the Catholic Church nos. 2308, 2309, 2310, 2311 & 2312
"[A]s long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed." (CCC 2308)
The four conditions are: • “the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain; • all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective; • there must be serious prospects of success; • the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated.
Accept reasoned answers. Modern weapons have the capability to destroy people and resources on a vast scale that is unprecedented in human history. The collateral damage that can be inflicted by using such weapons, both in the human sphere and also in the natural world, intensifies the destructive consequences of warfare. Thus, a new level of consideration and care must be exercised by nations that wield such weapons.
Accept reasoned answers. All citizens have a responsibility for the common good, but most especially those who hold public authority.
“Public authorities, in this case, have the right and duty to impose on citizens the obligations necessary for national defense.” (CCC 2310) Accept reasoned answers.
Accept reasoned answers.
Accept reasoned answers.
Accept reasoned answers.
No, the moral law must never be neglected. The Catechism asserts that the moral law remains even in wartime: "The Church and human reason both assert the permanent validity of the moral law during armed conflict. The mere fact that war has regrettably broken out does not mean that everything becomes licit between the warring parties." (CCC 2312)
The Military Draft
The U.S. Army issued a warning against fraudulent text messages that claimed the recipients were selected for a military draft.
The Selective Service Administration initiates the decision to enact a military draft, which then must be declared by Congress. Congress would have to pass (and the President sign) legislation in order to authorize a draft.
The U.S. military carried out an airstrike that killed Iran’s elite Quds Force commander, Major General Qassem Soleimani.
The Selective Service System registers eligible men and determines who is called to serve in the event of a draft. The last military draft ended in 1973.
“Almost all men age 18-25 who are U.S. citizens or are immigrants living in the U.S. are required to be registered with Selective Service.” The consequences of refusing to register are being denied federal student loan aid, job training, a federal job, or citizenship, facing possible prosecution, a large fine, and/or jail time.
Accept reasoned answers.
No. Registering for Selective Service does not mean you are in the military. Legislation would need to be enacted in order for a draft to take effect. In the event of a draft, the Selective Service Administration would determine who was called for service and who was not.
