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.