Episode 4 Bombing Suspected Drug Boats and Catholic Social Teaching

This episode is about U.S. military strikes on boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia, and what Catholic Social Teaching has to say about this unfolding news story. Here are references and additional resources.

1. At least 104 people have been killed in a total of 28 strikes on alleged drug boats, according to the Trump administration. ABC News December 19, 2025
2. U.S. Strikes Three Boats in the Pacific, Raising Legal and Evidentiary Questions About a Militarized Drug War – Article on Military.com 12/17/2025
3. PRESS RELEASE | The Bishops of the AEC express deep concern over the military build-up in the Southern Caribbean 10/25/2025
4. Bishops in Puerto Rico warn of ‘possible escalations’ in a US-Venezuela war Catholic News Agency 12/2/2025
5. Venezuela’s Catholic Church Emerges as Last Moral Authority as Maduro Regime Tightens Grip Gaudium Press 11/17/2025
6. Pope Leo calls for dialogue as US builds up military presence on Venezuelan coast Our Sunday Visitor News 11/5/2025
7. Pope Leo urges against US incursion of Venezuela CNN 12/2/2025
8. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D. Statement on Caribbean Interceptions December 3, 2025
9. Catechism of the Catholic Church – Safeguarding Peace and Avoiding War – Paragraphs 2302 to 2317, with paragraph 2309 spelling out the criteria for a just war
10. Bishop Robert Barron and Just War Theory January 29, 2021 Engaging summary of just war theory in a 12 minute video

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