So both of my parents live and work in Iraq’s green zone, which is currently being attacked by rockets. Reportedly, two Americans have been killed this week. As the Shi’ites begin to kill one another across Iraq, and as my brother (a Marine infantryman) begins his 2nd deployment to Iraq, my emotions creep into the dark-side. Someone is trying to kill my family. The enemy is attempting to mutilate their bodies, scar their hearts, and destroy their being. If my mother comes back with half a face and a breathing tube down her throat, if my brother comes back with missing limbs and burnt-out eyes, if my father comes back in a flag-draped coffin, then I can’t predict what I would do. Maybe I’d reenlist into the Army. Maybe I’d get on TV and scream, “This enemy will never stop! The only solution is to kill them all!” Or maybe I’d cultivate silent hate.

But my faith in Jesus Christ and his Church calls me to another path, for my faith reveals the truth about my enemy, our enemy: “This enemy is not human.” We cannot destroy this enemy with a rifle, with a surge, with a military occupation.

Pope JPtG taught us, “no peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness.” Killing people in Iraq will not bring forgiveness. Rifles are not tools of reconciliation. Stryker armored vehicles rolling into Sadr city will not broker mercy. Bombs falling will not lead to flowers and forgiveness. The United States Military is an organization that trains for one thing: the spilling of human blood. Warriors know this. Soldiers are not trained in conflict-resolution during basic training. They’re trained to stick sharpened pieces of metal into human bodies while yelling, “KILL!”

No peace without justice. No justice without forgiveness.

And no forgiveness without sacrifice - ours, upon crosses, with “father, forgive them,” on our lips, with love of enemy in our hearts. To all Christians, I ask you - how is killing a self-sacrifice for love of enemy? How is killing an overture of reconciliation? How is killing a work of mercy? What sacrifices are you willing to make, rather than take? Make a sacrifice or take a sacrifice - carry a cross or carry a rifle. Both crosses and rifles require courage, both require bloodshed, both require sacrifice, but only one leads to forgiveness, to justice, to peace. Only one is VICTORY.

“Loving the enemy is the nucleus of the ‘Christian revolution’ . . . (it) is rightly considered the magna carta of Christian nonviolence.” - Pope Benedict XVI