Letter to the editor: Thou shalt not kill

Notes: Writer is an Anglican priest and military chaplain. "I had a strong visceral reaction to Mr. Colin Miles' letter [Jan. 2011, p. 5]. .... Is the war just ? For the answer to this question, I am grateful to a class in comparative religion I took at the height of the Cold War, while the Vietnam War was fresh in people's minds. I was a soldier and not a chaplain then. I carried a weapon and the taking of a life was of real concern. The class was my introduction to Just War Doctrine .... As a soldier, I reasoned 'jus ad bellum' was in the realm of nations; 'jus in bello' had a direct impact on me in reconciling faith and duty. Colin Miles' views do not apply to the chaplains I know and have worked with. Nor does the term 'war criminals' apply to those in my spiritual care".

Subjects: Miles, Colin; Afghan War, 2001 - Participation, Canadian; Afghanistan - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Just war doctrine; Military chaplains - Anglican Church of Canada