One of the questions on religion and ethics from the students during my “Bishop’s Day” at the Hutchins School concerned my opposition to euthanasia (patient asssisted suicide/medical killing) on the grounds that God gives life and God alone should take life, and yet my support for killing in a ‘just war’.

In responding, I mentioned that the criteria for defining a ‘just war’ and their application to the war in Iraq could be seen in an article that I wrote prior to the outbreak of that war.  Under each of the criteria for defining a ‘just war’ I set out questions that I believed (and still believe) needed to be answered before the proposed war with Iraq could be declared to be a ‘just war’ in which Australia should participate.

See Questions I have about war with Iraq – War: is it necessary? ever moral?

How would you have gone? lists other student questions.