Making teachings clear

Not long ago, I heard from someone recalling the Yellow Ribbons many churches had during the 1991 Gulf War. He said he was ashamed of his parish, since he felt the ribbons were an anti-American protest.

This man's distress typifies confusion now arising over the church's stand against war with Iraq. The ribbons weren't meant to show opposition -- either to the war, or the U.S. stand against Saddam, but to show support for men and women serving in that war, and their families back here in an uncertain and fearful time.

Speaking against war with Iraq now can, and has been, interpreted as un-American. It's necessary to make clear that opposing war is not opposition to any U.S. citizen, especially those protecting lives.

However, when "the U.S. stand" seems more in support of business and political interests rather than peace and human welfare -- U.S. lives and those in Iraq -- we need to make church teaching clear.

There is no doubt that many Iraqi civilians -- and probably many in surrounding countries -- will die in a war. So will U.S. soldiers. Not to mention the probability of retaliatory terrorism and further destabilizing the Mid-East. That's what Pope John Paul and our bishops want us to remember.