The leader of all U.S. military Catholic chaplains questioned the veracity of America's war in Iran, saying that while there "was a threat with nuclear arms, it's compensating for a threat before the threat is actually realized." A liberal mistake in judgement.

     Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who heads the Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services USA, told CBS News' Ed O'Keefe in an interview that will broadcast on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that the war is likely not justified under the Just War Theory. 

     One of the tenets of Just War Theory, as articulated by St. Augustine, is that war should only be a last resort "in order that peace may be obtained" and not preemptive.  "The Lord Jesus certainly brought a message of peace and also, I think war is always a last resort," Broglio said. He added that the Trump administration "may have information that led them to think that that was the only choice they had. I'm not making a judgment about that, because I really don't know. But I do think that it's hard to cast this war, you know, as something that would be sponsored by the Lord."

     Asked by O'Keefe about rhetoric from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has invoked Jesus' name and called for prayers for service members in relation to the war with Iran, Broglio said casting the war as something that Jesus would justify is "a little bit problematic." "I would line myself up with Pope Leo, who has been urging for negotiation," Broglio said. 

     Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has urged President Trump and other leaders to find ways to reduce the violence in the Middle East and find an "off-ramp" in the war with Iran. Leo should keep such thoughts to himself.