STATEMENT OF HUNGARIAN LAY CATHOLICS – Unite for a just peace!

The people of Ukraine suffers from the aggression of Russian might. Destroying vast amounts of human lives is a sin that burdens the souls of the Russian president and his accomplice. This manslaughter can only be prevented by united, decisive action against the murderous impulse.

Real peace does not exist without righteousness. This is what Christian teaching has consistently conveyed, this is what has been pointed out by Pope Francis in the last phase of his life, this is what fundamental humanity demands. Justice is also at the centre of the social letter by the Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference “A more just and brotherly world!” In case of an armed conflict, a sudden surrendering of arms and the equal treatment of aggressor and victim cannot lead to permanent peace, such a procedure would not heed to the perspective of justice. It would be as if we sat down at the laid table with a killer, who had entered our house and killed several family members, and talked about what each wished for so that no more people would die.

No: the killer must be stopped, disarmed, punished, and those attacked have a right and an obligation to self-defence.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) has the following to say about this:

“Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one’s own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow.” (CCC 2264)

“Legitimate defence can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defence of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm. For this reason, those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility.” (CCC 2265)

When any organization, nation or community makes efforts by any means, including arms to support Ukraine in defending its territory and citizens, such efforts serve just peace. The broadening and increasingly resolute international collaboration to halt the murderous Russian aggression is not only welcome but these determined steps are urgently needed to bring bloodshed, injustice and war to an end.

So reads a statement from March 4, 2025 by the presidency of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE): “We wish to express our gratitude to EU decision-makers for providing unprecedented humanitarian, political, economic, financial as well as military support to Ukraine and its people over the past years. We also deeply cherish the tireless efforts of civil society organisations, including many faith-based actors, and of ordinary citizens in showing concrete gestures of solidarity with the people suffering from the consequences of the war.”

Whoever renders these efforts as pro-war stance and jeopardises the international collaboration for Ukraine, called a martyr by Pope Leo XIV. and his predecessor Pope Francis, is the enemy of just peace.

Christian faith makes it our duty to raise our voice against injustice and promote attaining genuine just peace.

Hirdetés

June 16, 2025

Erik Bitemo, IT professional, acolyte
Katalin Füzér, sociologist, associate professor
István Gégény, theologian
Rita Glózer, media researcher, associate professor
Ferenc Hardi, humanities scholar, pastoral assistant
Orsolya Hardi, psycho-pedagogue, pastoral assistant
György Heidl, aesthetics and history of philosophy scholar, professor
Özséb Horányi, communication researcher, professor
István Kamarás, sociologist of religion
Miklós Király, lawyer, professor
László Kollár, engineer, professor
Marcell Martonffy, historian of literature, theologian
Csaba Orova, theologian
Eszter Sáhó, lawyer
Balázs Tóth, economist

The original Hungarian text translated by Katalin Füzér.