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...here is an AI summary of the RCC's position on Just Wars...i.e. the RCC provides counsel regarding the Prudential Judgement of 'extenuating circumstances' that would justify the killing of other persons...among them would be severe threats to the victim nation's citizens' physical well-being and freedom. Now change the ID of the victim to a woman who has been impregnated through force or coercion...again, there are severe threats to her health, even life...as well as personal freedom...for the rest of her life. Should she be given the right to exercise Prudential Judgement in deciding whether or not to terminate her Unwanted Pregnancy? Note that the pregnant woman is clearly the victim in such cases...not any government entity. (Cue the issue of fetal Personhood and its relevance)

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From the Catholic Church's perspective, the determination of whether a war is just rests with the civil authorities (political and military leaders) responsible for the common good, not with Church hierarchy. While the Church provides the moral framework (Just War Theory), leaders must make the prudential judgment that conditions—such as lasting, grave, and certain damage—are met.

Key Details on Responsibility and Criteria:

Responsibility of State Leaders: The Catechism of the Catholic Church (§2309) leaves the evaluation of the strict conditions for legitimate defense to those who have the responsibility for the common good.

Role of the Church: The Church counsels and provides moral guidelines, but does not dictate political or military decisions.

Conditions for Just War: According to the Catechism and thinkers like St. Thomas Aquinas, a war must meet specific criteria:
Damage inflicted by the aggressor must be lasting, grave, and certain.
All other means of ending the conflict must be impractical or ineffective (last resort).
There must be serious prospects of success.
The use of arms must not produce evils graver than the evil to be eliminated (proportionality).

Modern Context: Pope Francis has expressed deep skepticism about whether modern, indiscriminate weapons allow any conflict to meet these "rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy".
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