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BISHOP OF OXFORD TALKS ABOUT JUST WAR

Friday 21st November 2003

On Tuesday the University was delighted to welcome the Bishop of Oxford who came to Buckingham to lecture about just war. The Reverend Kevin Ashby, vicar of the local church St Peter and St Paul, was at the event:

"The Bishop of Oxford the Rt. Revd Richard Harries' lecture: "Just War" was interesting, thought-provoking and challenging, particularly as it was delivered on the same day that President Bush arrived in Britain for talks which will include the situation in Iraq and international terrorism.

His talk focused firstly on the development of the Christian understanding of war from the stance of pacifism to that of the possibility of a "Just" war. Secondly, he explored the five principles for a just war, including the fact that it must be a last resort, that there must be legitimate authority and that the safety of non-combatants must be protected at all times.

Thirdly, the Bishop applied the just war principles to crises in the world over the last few decades including, of course, the present situation in Iraq. He made it quite clear that, in his opinion, the second Gulf War was not a "just war" and should not have been staged.

A lively discussion followed with opinion divided on the implementation of the principles and the just-ness, or otherwise, of particular conflicts. Discussion and debate continued long after the end of the lecture!"

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• the Concerts and Lectures series
  

Report by Kevin Ashby and the Web Team