Moral Clarity in Nuclear Age

142 Pages·1983·2.809 MB·English

by  Michael Novak

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MORAL
CLARITY
INT HE
NUCLEAR
AliE
Michael l\lovak
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Thomas Nelson Publishers
Nashville • Camden • New York
Acknowledgments
The author is grateful to the following organizations:
''Moral Garity in the Nuclear Age" is reprinted from
Catholicism in Crisis, vol. 1, no. 4 (March 1983), and
National Review (April 1, 1983), with the permission of
the editors.
''The Geopolitical Situation" is reprinted with the
permission of the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis,
Inc.
''The Bishops Speak Out" is reprinted from National
Review 0une 10, 1983), with permission.
The Scripture quotations in this publication are from
the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted
1946, 1952, © 1971, 1973.
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CONTENTS
Foreword
by BilGlray.h .. a. . m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Introduction
by WilF.l Biuacmk Jr. l. . .ey . . ,. . . . . . . . . 11
Author'.s.P.r.e.f.a.c.e. .1.6. ..........
PARTl
Chap1t er
MorGaalr iintt hyNe u clAega.er. .2.3
Appendix
Co-Siog"fnM eorGrsaa rlii tnth yNe u clear
Age". .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 5
PART2
Introd..u. . .c . . t. . i. . .o . . n. . . . . . . . . . . 8 1
Chap2t er
ThGee opolSiittiucaAalt Vi ieowfrn o:m
Euro..p. . e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3
Chapter 3
Rescued from Disaster:
The Bishops Speak Out ............. 106
Chapter 4
Just and Unjust Negotiations ........ 125
Notes
So That Our Children Will Enjoy Life,
Liberty,
and the Pursuit of Happiness
FOREWORD
Probably no document in recent decades com­
ing from an American religious body has capti­
vated as much public attention as the 1983
Bishops' Pastoral Letter on War and Peace. To
some extent that was to be expected, of course,
since Roman Catholics constitute the largest
single religious group in the country. In addition,
the pastoral letter may break new ground for the
Bishops Conference by delving into areas of
complex public policy and political controversy.
In the past, the National Conference of Catholic
Bishops has tended to confine its interests and
public statements mainly to spiritual concerns
and issues that clearly were moral in nature. This
led some to wonder if the pendulum was about to
swing to the other extreme and the Bishops
Conference would now imitate some of their
Protestant counterparts and become overly ab­
sorbed in political activism at the expense of
spiritual guidance.
But the real reason for the unprecedented
interest in the pastoral letter, aside from the
media's obsession with a few controversial
8
Foreword
points, is that it is a highly significant statement
on Jh� 11}9�,t _gitjc� politicc:11 _�u�d. moral is5-ue gf
�ur ti11:w-the problem or nuclear weapons of
mass aestruction. However, this urgent problem
also raises profound moral and spiritual ques­
tions as well-questions Christians must not
ignore if they are to be faithful to their calling to
be followers of Jesus Christ in today's world.
I am pleased Michael Novak's essays on this
Ill�
subject are being reprinted in book form.
?eserve ,.�_der, QJet1l,atip:r;t and" careful_, s�dyby
Christi�!!s 9£ �:v�ry: backgroJ1nd who are seeking
fo 'grapple with this complex issue. They are not
only readable and logical, but seriously deal with
the issues from a distinctly Christian point of
view.
His essays clearly point out the major world
problems and dilemmas raised by the develop­
ment and deployment of weapons of mass
destruction.
Mr. Novak's essays are far more than a com­
mentary on the bishops' pastoral letter. To be
sure, they will be a useful introduction to that
complex document, but beyond that, �-pr�-:­
ie12!.a?rillictnt cljsc;u, ssion of.the whole question of
!!).Orality �d_ nuclear strategy. Of course, not
everyone will agree with his perspective or every
detail of his argument, but his views cannot be
ignored by anyone who claims to be dealing
seriously with this issue. His awareness of the
dangers our world faces and his burden to bring
the light of Christian teaching to these dangers
come through on every page.
The e'ssays in this volume are important for
9
Moral Clarity in the Nuclear Age
another reason, however. Novak rightly points
out that the basic problems of our time-and of
our individual lives, I might add-are fundamen­
tally spiritual in nature. For too long modem man
has tried in vain to solve his problems without
God, but ��E!� humanity seeks tq liv� apart fr<?m.
it� �CJ'e9:�or and His unchanging ,_rnqr�l la� the
t
.r.esult_ is· �lway$ � ch�c;i Those . of us who are
Christians are convinced the ultimate answer to
the problems we face is found only in Jesus
Christ, who freely offers forgiveness and new life
to all who turn to Hirn in repentance and faith.
May these essays confront us afresh with that
truth and lead us to seek God's wisdom and help
in every area of our lives, both as individuals and
as a nation.
-BILLYG RAHAM
August 1983
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