Self-Defense for Catholics

Frequent visitors to this blog will know that I almost never post on matters with political implications.  Moreover, a blog devoted mostly to church flowers and manners might seem like an odd place for a post on self-defense.  That being said, I recently watched a documentary about a Christian family in an African country where the mother, father, and son-in-law were all brutally beaten.  Although it was not entirely clear from the film, it appeared as if the family members had the means of defending themselves but did not use them, perhaps believing that was the Christian response.

This very upsetting film led me to look into the Church's view of self-defense.  I found a post at The Catholic Gentleman that reviewed the thoughts of St. Thomas Aquinas, quoted the Catechism, and summarized the principles as follows:

"We have a legitimate right to self defense based on rightly ordered self love.

"We have a duty to protect those in our care, such as our families.

"Force should be used in moderation. Force should be met with like force.

"The taking of a human life in self defense should be a last resort, when all other options have been exhausted."

 You may read more at the above link.