The Catholic bishops consider the German arms deliveries to Ukraine to be ethically justifiable.

According to a statement by the German Bishops' Conference, which was published on Thursday at the end of the General Assembly in Vierzehnheiligen, the churches have always seen it as their task to "accompany the export of armaments with a critical eye and to urge a restrictive approval practice".

But one must also take into account the specific situation in Ukraine.

In this light, deliveries of arms that serve to ensure that the attacked country "can exercise its right to self-defense, which is enshrined in international law and also affirmed by the church's peace ethics, are fundamentally legitimate".

Thomas Jansen

Editor in Politics.

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However, the decision-makers would have to “consider precisely what they are doing and possibly doing with it”.

According to the bishops, this applies equally to supporters and opponents of arms deliveries.

In principle, however, the bishops' conference is sticking to its position that weapons may only be supplied to NATO partners and to states that are on an equal footing with them.

The bishops describe the better equipment of the Bundeswehr that the Federal Government is aiming for and its greater focus on national and alliance defense as “fundamentally plausible”.

Avoid "political buzzwords".

They expressly oppose a sweeping condemnation of these goals "using political terms such as 'armament policy' or 'militarization of foreign policy'".

However, other “contributions to peace in the world” such as improving living conditions in poor countries and a resolute climate policy should not take a back seat.

In the declaration, the bishops affirm at the same time that the church is committed to Jesus' non-violence in its teaching and in its actions.

Therefore, even "in the hour of distress" she must resolutely resist the temptation to use force without restraint.

Violence and counter-violence, even when legitimate, drive a spiral of violence that regularly spirals out of control.

In addition, the German bishops called on the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Cyril I, without naming him, to "speak a clear word and clearly distance himself from the war".

The representatives of the churches must be careful not to "let themselves be determined by national loyalties in such a way that God's will for peace recedes into the background".

The world needs the common witness of the churches especially in times of trouble and upheaval.

Pope Francis, on the other hand, defended the chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Georg Bätzing, against the accusation that he had not yet clearly condemned the Russian aggressor.

Francis was unequivocal from the start and described the war in Ukraine as madness, said the Bishop of Limburg.

"The Pope is always trying, he will do everything to ensure that this insane war comes to an end and that peace gets a chance."