Just War Theory: Regime Change, Nukes, and Defense | Msgr. Stewart Swetland

When is a war truly just—and who gets to decide? Drawing on the thought of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, this conversation unpacks how Catholic Just War Theory provides a coherent framework for judging the morality of war.

Msgr. Swetland applies these principles to real conflicts, including World War II, Vietnam War, and the use of the atomic bomb, while also addressing Ukraine, terrorism, and modern warfare—offering a clear and challenging lens on justice in a fallen world.

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CHAPTERS

0:00 - Introduction

0:53 - Trailer

2:36 - Monsignor Swetland’s Background

13:40 - How Catholic Just War Theory Developed

32:55 - The Role of Nato and Immigration Regulation

55:49 - The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

1:05:10 - The Morality of Nuclear Deterrence

1:10:50 - The Dark Passages of the Bible

1:21:10 - The Morality of Modern Warfare

1:44:20 - The Russia-Ukraine War

1:54:30 - Tensions in the Catholic Church

2:08:41 - Catholicism and African-American Culture