Phenomenon Of Violence

Fr. Ignacio Ellacuria, S.J.

The following is from "Freedom Made Flesh, the Mission of Christ and His Church," by the Rev. Ignacio Ellacuria, SJ, rector of the University of Central America, San Salvador, who was murdered last week (November 1989).

We must unmask certain attitudes that are now widespread in the face of the global phenomenon of violence. We must make a distinction between the different forms that violence assumes, to enable us to talk about one kind of violence that is always evil and condemnable, and another kind of violence that on occasion may be absolutely necessary even though it undoubtedly entails evils. Given the circumstances, the latter kind of violence may be not only tolerable but even required.

Link (here) to the LA Times