My parish bulletin (Of this weekend), under the header "Appropriate Thoughts As We Begin The New Year", was provided Ecclesiastes (3:1-8); But, the Pastor or Parish Clerk forgot to include Verse-3, "... a time to kill and a time to heal...".
The fullness of presenting God's words are better understood in context and in their unedited version.
When then is the allowable "time to kill"? Natural Law allows humans to use deadly force to protect themselves from such criminal attacks as provide a clear-and-present danger of death or great bodily harm---A provision reflected in our civil law. It appears that Natural Law both allows and requires us to use such force in like circumstances, to protect our families, neighbors, fellow citizens and all innocent victims.
It should be remembered that John the Baptist did NOT instruct the soldiers who approached him to give up their profession; But, to perform their duties justly and without extortion. Jesus the Christ most strongly noted the Faith of the Centurion, without condemning his killing trade. Of course, St. Paul supported the State's use of the so deadly sword to execute justice.
Latter on, the great "Doctor Of The Church", St. Bernard of Clairvaux (ie In his De Laude Novae Militae) notes that it is not only allowed, but commanded, to strike deadly blows for Christ (And for the protection of His People) against the enemies of that day, the followers of the false prophet Mohammed (Many millions of whom are today like and deadly enemies of Jesus and his People).
Such editing of the Word of God is a violation of Truth and teaches incomplete and, therefore, false lessons to the People. Providing my fellow parishioners with such misleading teachings should be corrected in our next bulletin---Perhaps with a complete list of the allowable times including, "...a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace".
The People of God should know their rights and duties under His law, performing the right acts, for the right reasons, at the right times.
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