Letter
Letter to Senate Foreign Relations on Use of Military Force, August 29, 2017
Letter from Bishop Oscar Cantu, Chairman, Committee on International Justice and Peace to Senate Foreign Relations on Use of Military Force, August 29, 2017
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops supports Senate Joint Resolution 43, which seeks to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force and replace it with a more targeted and accountable framework. The bill identifies specific extremist groups and introduces Congressional oversight and a five-year sunset clause. The bishops commend the bill’s alignment with “just war” principles, particularly non-combatant immunity and legitimate authority, emphasizing that military force should be a last resort aimed at restoring peace. They view the resolution as a vital step toward preventing indefinite warfare and fostering ethical debate on U.S. military engagement.