The letter headlined “Don’t glorify death and dismemberment” (CR, May 31) treats as a freebie the price paid to free the slaves in the Civil War, the cost in personnel and material to defeat the Axis in WWII, and the effort which drove the Soviet Union to bankruptcy and defeat in the Cold War.
Rather than being thankful for the sacrifice which led to the defeat of evil, the writer harshly judges those who serve and the church for recognizing the value of military service. Who gave that writer the authority to overrule Article 2265 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which opens with “Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others.” Grave duty means mortal sin for failure to perform. Who does the writer have in mind to pay that price?
John Meinhardt
Severn