Debating Pacifism in Christianity

Professor Joseph Capizzi discusses why the Catholic Church is not pacifist, exploring the historical and theological contexts that justify the use of force in certain situations, particularly in defense of vulnerable people.

This lecture was given at Duke University on February 13, 2020.

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Prof. Joseph E. Capizzi is Ordinary Professor of Moral Theology at the Catholic University of America. He teaches in the areas of social and political theology, with special interests in issues in peace and war, citizenship, political authority, and Augustinian theology. He has written, lectured, and published widely on just war theory, bioethics, the history of moral theology, and political liberalism. Dr. Capizzi is also the Executive Director of the Institute for Human Ecology at Catholic University. He received his B.A. from the University of Virginia, his Masters in Theological Studies from Emory University, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He lives in Maryland with his wife and six children.