Why Killing in Self-Defense Is Not Murder
Table of Contents
Opponents Say Killing in Self-Defense is Murder
Is killing in self-defense murder, and therefore immoral?
Recently, a jury of his peers acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse of all charges of intentional/reckless homicide and reckless endangerment.
As a result, his acquittal caused many “woke” people to became outraged
Subsequently, these outraged people used the arguments that there is no such thing as justified killing, even in self-defense, and that it still counts as murder.
But is it murder?
Let’s look at what the Catholic Church teaches regarding killing in self-defense.
St Thomas Aquinas on Killing in Self-Defense
As it turns out, Catholics have always held that killing in self-defense is just.
In Summa Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas writes that:
Nothing hinders one act from having two effects, only one of which is intended, while the other is beside the intention. Now moral acts take their species according to what is intended, and not according to what is beside the intention, since this is accidental as explained above. Accordingly the act of self-defense may have two effects, one is the saving of one’s life, the other is the slaying of the aggressor. Therefore this act, since one’s intention is to save one’s own life, is not unlawful, seeing that it is natural to everything to keep itself in “being,” as far as possible.
ST II-II, q. 64, a. 7
As you can see here, the Angelic Doctor of the Catholic Church is decidedly on the side that killing in self-defense is justified if one is trying to kill you.
Of course, the intent is not that you kill your aggressor, but that you save your own life.
This is the key distinction.
If one kills another in response to a slap in the face, a punch to the gut, or vulgar insults, then we would say that killing a person is not permitted as self-defense.
But in the case of Rittenhouse, Joseph Rosenbaum tried to take his gun (which could have been used to kill Kyle), Anthony Huber hit Kyle multiple times in the head with a skateboard (which can be fatal), and Gaige Grosskreutz drew his pistol on Kyle.
Obviously, it is clear that all 3 of these men were taking life threatening actions towards Kyle.
Consequently, this is why St. Thomas would likely assert that Kyle was justified in shooting these men in self-defense.
The Catholic Magisterium on Killing in Self-Defense
What does the magisterium of the Catholic Church say regarding self-defense?
First, according to the Catechism of the Council of Trent, written in AD 1566:
If a man kill another in self-defence, having used every means consistent with his own safety to avoid the infliction of death, he evidently does not violate this Commandment.
Catechism of the Council of Trent III, ยงยง 327-332.
Second, The Douay Catechism of 1649 says:
Q. Is it not lawful to kill in any cause?
A. Yes, in a just war, or when public justice requires it: “For the magistrate beareth not the sword without cause.” Rom. i. 4. As also in the blameless defence of our own, or our innocent neighbour’s life, against an unjust invader.
The Douay Catechism of 1649 by Henry Tuberville, D.D.
Third, the Baltimore Catechism, written in the late 19th century, states:
Q. 1276. Under what circumstances may human life be lawfully taken?
A. Human life may be lawfully taken:
1. In self-defense, when we are unjustly attacked and have no other means of saving our own lives;
Baltimore Catechism
Fourth, in the Catechism of St. Pius X written in 1908, Pope St. Pius X writes:
3 Q. Are there cases in which it is lawful to kill?
A. It is lawful to kill when fighting in a just war; when carrying out by order of the Supreme Authority a sentence of death in punishment of a crime; and, finally, in cases of necessary and lawful defence of one’s own life against an unjust aggressor.
Catechism of Saint Pius X
In addition to these sources, there are many more sources out there, including quotes from Saints, Popes, encyclicals, and catechisms that essentially say the same thing.
The Catholic Church Defends the Right to Kill in Self-Defense
Certainly, the Catholic Church has consistently held that self-defense is permissible for centuries, and continues to do so to this day.
To clarify, it is unfortunate that Kyle’s self-defense ended the lives of two people and injured a third.
However, killing someone in defense of your own life is not murder.
So in conclusion, Kyle Rittenhouse didn’t commit murder.