US bishops urged to take stronger stance on Iran war

By CathNews New Zealand

November 13th, 2026

A Tomahawk missile fired from the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. on February 28 (US Navy/Wikimedia Commons)

More than 80 Catholic theologians and educators have called on the United States bishops to take a stronger, more unified public stand against the war with Iran, as well as promoting Gospel non-violence. Source: National Catholic Reporter.

In a letter to members of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops ahead of their meeting later this month, 83 scholars asked the hierarchy to oppose renewed or expanded military operations, advocate diplomacy and humanitarian relief, and help Catholics translate the Church’s teaching on peace into concrete action.

“More than seven months into this de-humanising war, we respectfully ask you and your brother bishops to speak with still greater clarity, urgency, and unity against further warfare,” the letter stated, calling for “a compelling public witness to the non-violence of the Gospels and ways of just peace”.

The initiative was spearheaded by Kevin Ahern, professor and chair of religious studies at Manhattan University, and Eli McCarthy, a theologian at Georgetown University. Signatories are from Catholic institutions in the US and abroad.

Mr Ahern said the idea emerged from conversations among theologians associated with Pax Christi and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. As the conflict continued, he worried that public attention had shifted toward economic concerns while the human costs of war receded from view.

“We wanted to remind the Church and remind our fellow academics that war is happening,” Mr Ahern said. The letter also shows gratitude and support to bishops who have already spoken out, he said.

Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley, who is president of the US bishops’ conference, has appealed for de-escalation of the war. In April, responding to threats of intensified US attacks on Iran, he called on President Donald Trump to “step back from the precipice of war and negotiate a just settlement for the sake of peace and before more lives are lost”.

But the theologians want the bishops to go further. Their letter lays out 10 proposals, beginning with public opposition to any renewal or expansion of military action against Iran and to an expanded Pentagon budget.

FULL STORY

Catholic theologians urge US bishops to speak against Iran war ahead of assembly (By Camillo Barone/National Catholic Reporter)