U.S., pope create local tug of war

Lolita Harper

Pope John Paul II publicly opposed the United States’ push for war

against Iraq this week, creating a unique quandary for area Catholics

who feel allegiances to God and country.

Both are world leaders. Both garner allegiance from many in

Newport-Mesa. And each are pushing for contradicting goals.

Catholic leaders in Newport-Mesa agreed it is a Christian

principle to promote peace, but various Catholics have differing

opinions on how far that goes in practical application. Some say they

feel peace is always an ideal to strive for, but concede that it is

not always an option. Others challenge the quick rush to war,

claiming the evidence supporting it is not strong enough to

compromise a ideal of peace.

Regardless of their stance, religious leaders in the area realize

the pope’s message must be presented in the context of the largely

conservative stronghold of Orange County.

“How we preach to bring about that message of peace must not

itself be a non-peaceful confrontation,” said William McLaughlin,

senior pastor at Our Lady Queen of Angels.

Costa Mesa Councilman Gary Monahan, who has large Celtic crosses

decorating his Newport Boulevard Irish pub and attends St. Joachim’s

on Orange Avenue, agrees. He said he feels no need to choose between

the pope’s message of peace and the president’s push for war.

Monahan, a registered Republican, said Bush and the pope are

addressing the issue of war from different perspectives.

The president’s role is to make decisions for the best of the

American people, Monahan said, while the pope is serving as a

religious figure and peacekeeper. Monahan said he supports both men.

“There is no contradiction or quandary,” Monahan said. “I respect

where both leaders are coming from.”

Msgr. Daniel Murray, of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Newport Beach,

said there is a distinction between peace and the means to peace,

which is where the disagreement lies.

Murray said he believes the pope’s call for peace was not a

political opposition to Bush’s call for war, but an ongoing

affirmation of the Christian way.

“The pope is always asking for peace, whether during World War I,

World War II or the thousands of international conflicts going on,”

Murray said.

Residents assume elected leaders know more than they do and are

making the best decisions possible, he said. Murray does not think

the pope is asking for a political response, but just asking that

people continue to pray for peace.

“Some people will say that two people armed to the teeth but not

fighting each other are at peace, but that is not really peace,”

Murray said. “The Bible tells us to love our enemies, but that does

not change the fact that they are still our enemies.”

On the other side of the argument, some Catholics argue that peace

should be pursued more aggressively and feel the pope’s recent

position is stronger than the usual quest for the ideal.

Costa Mesa resident Jean Forbath, who attends St. John the Baptist

Church on Baker Street, said she is “overjoyed that [her] church and

the person of our Holy Father are taking this stance.”

Forbath, also the founder of nonprofit Share Our Selves, said her

allegiance lies with the pope and a call for peace.

She said she has studied theological theory and the “just war”

concept extensively and does not feel the president’s call to arms

meets the criteria. Many scholars have come to the conclusion that,

with the technological advances in massive weapons of destruction, no

war could be considered just, she said.

“It is very heartening to me to have my church take a hard stance

and be very open with it,” Forbath said. “I just hope that message

gets listened to.”

Others still take a middle-of-the-road response, arguing strongly

against war while conceding government officials have more expertise

on the subject.

McLaughlin said his congregation is “all for the pope,” but must

also take into consideration the community’s mixed emotions on the

matter. He said he cannot take a universal stance to completely

oppose war because he does not have access to top secret information.

The case the president has made for war, though, has not won his

support.

“They may know something I don’t, but from what I know, it does

not seem like the American thing to do,” McLaughlin said.

Teachings of the Catholic Church are absolutely clear that “just

wars” are the only permissible wars, he said. He agrees with Forbath

that it would be hard to make a case for any just war with the use of

weapons of mass destruction.

McLaughlin said he was very much at the forefront of “peacemaking”

in the 1960s, when he was a “young man.” Now he has mellowed and

settles for praying for peace and political guidance, while providing

his congregation with strong examples of the Christian way.

Preaching in the heart of conservative stronghold of Orange

County, McLaughlin understands he must toe the line between preaching

general Christian beliefs and political messages. He chooses to

present the subject of peace in a general context and a context in

which his congregation will take to heart.

“Each official knows their community and how to sell the story of

peace and the necessity of relaying it,” McLaughlin said. “The

subject matter is not up to the individual, but he or she must give

thought in the way it is presented.”

Our Lady Queen of Angels designates certain times to pray for

soldiers, sailors and all military personnel, as well as the nation’s

leaders, he said. And in certain times of bravery, the members also

pray for Iraqis, on the other side of the conflict. This is done out

of Catholic belief.

“I will always be on the side of peace, as that is my nature and

my calling,” McLaughlin said.

While there is disagreement among various leaders and

parishioners, all can agree that peace is the ideal.

“It certainly would be wonderful if everyone could truly never

need weapons, armies or fear for their safety -- that would be a

wonderful thing,” Murray said. “We pray for peace -- meaning we pray

that in the end all of us come to live in harmony while respecting

our differences,” Murray said.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

and covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275

or by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.