The end does not justify the means

And why not do evil that good may come? — as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. –Romans 3:8

You would think by listening to Catholics from both sides of the spectrum that you can do evil to do good. I find this extremely annoying to hear the justification of an act because of some good results. If you question the justification of the means you are denounced for not wanting the good that resulted. For example you will hear that condoms are a necessary evil to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. If you disagree with this premise you are told that you are not compassionate and are wiling to let people die for an ideal. If you question the justification of the war in Iraq then you must approve of the immense evil that occurred under Saddam Hussein’s regime. If you believe that using an injustice to make up for a previous injustice such as in a racial quota system is mistaken, then you are branded a racist. Daily we are hearing arguments where the end does justify the means.

Recently I heard Sean Hannity interview an author of a book that says that President Bush should be impeached for going to war in Iraq. While I disagree with the arguments this author used, I was more upset by Hannity’s line of questioning. He would ask something like “Do you think it is better that Uday and Qusay Hussein are no longer around?” The author not wanting to answer the foolish question would try to go on with the interview. Sean becomes angry with “Why can’t you answer this simple question?” The interview just went on and degraded from there. Sean Hannity isn’t the only talk show host that uses this line of questioning. Regardless of what I believe to be the good results of the war in Iraq it does not change the question as to whether the war was just or not. Regardless of how many mass graves we find or other signs of that thug regime it does not change the information on what led to the war. I fall on the side that the war was probably just and that the President acted with good faith with the information he had. But I am also greatly concerned about possible intelligence lapses that might gave given a false information to our leaders. No matter what I don’t want to hear these stupid arguments of “Would you prefer that Saddam still be in charge.” These types of questions do nothing to convince those who believed that the war was not justified. If you believe the war to be just than argue based on why it was just in accordance with the framework of just war theory.

I wonder if somebody asked Sean Hannity if we should invade North Korea right now? If he answered no, would he like to then be told that his answer meant that he approves of the gulags and the police state there. But this got me thinking about what if some talk show host had interviewed Joseph.

Host: Recently you been mentioned in a new book called Genesis.
Joseph: True this book has many stories in it including the story of my life.
Host: I really liked how everything turned out and God had put you into position to save the lives of both the Egyptians and your kinsman during a time of drought.
Joseph: I was pretty happy to be part of God’s plan.
Host; It is a good thing that your brothers threw you into that empty well and then later sold you into slavery.
Joseph: That was not a good thing at all, though I later forgave them. They meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Host: If they had not sold you into slavery than many people would have died. Do you want innocent women and children to die.
Joseph: No but..
Host: Can’t you answer a simple question. I asked you if wanted innocent women and children to die.
Joseph: No! But let me…
Host: This conversation is going nowhere. See people these are the types of liberals who just won’t answer a question. I have to put up with behavior everyday.