7 Absurd, certainly, and unworthy of a sensible man is the belief of those whothink that civilians are to be prevented from these contests, yet recommend thatthey be permitted to the military because, they maintain, such experiencesharpens military valor. Now, in the first place, honorable deeds anddisgraceful acts are essentially different; in no way can they be changed totheir opposites by the different status of persons. Indeed, men in whatevercondition of life are equally bound by natural and divine law. The reason,moreover, for such a concession for the military would have to be sought inpublic benefit which could never be so great so as to silence the voice of natural and divine law. What about the obvious deficiency in thisrationale of public advantage? Assuredly, the incentives to military courage aimat better preparing the state against the enemy. Can this be accomplished by thepractice of a custom that by its very nature causes the death of one of theindividual parties of the country's defense whenever dissension arises among thesoldiers for which, indeed, occasions are by no means rare?
Source: Pastoralis Officii (Vatican.va)