Christian Ethics

A Moral Assessment of the British Empire: It’s Complicated

Was the British Empire, all things considered, as evil as some say?

Heroes and Anti-Heroes: A Teachable Moment for the Next Generation

With the lines between good and evil portrayed as ever blurrier, distinguishing heroes, villains, and anti-heroes is critical

A Niebuhrian Companion: Over 20 Years of Mark R. Amstutz’s International Ethics

24 Years after publication, Christian ethicist Mark Amstutz’s textbook “International Ethics” is still a classic.

Unchecked Russian Aggression Over the Black Sea

Russia’s downing of an MQ-9 drone must not go unanswered.

Just War Reasoning Overcomes Moral Ambiguity on War and Peace

Remarks delivered by Eric Patterson at Catholic University of America on Sept. 13th, 2022 on HR 1009.

Christian Realism as a Remedy for Polarization

Reinhold Niebuhr’s philosophy of Christian realism may hold the keys to addressing polarization in the West.

Law and Just War Tradition: Passing HR 1009

Though soldiers and military leaders are bound by Just War Tradition (JWT), members of Congress and civilian leaders are not. The passage of HR 1009, is one step toward bridging this gap. 

Review of Stephen Wolfe’s A Case for Christian Nationalism

Though Wolfe’s arguments are complex and wide ranging, they frequently fail to hold up under scrutiny

Bringing Just War Theory to Congress With H.R. 1009

In March of 2022, I introduced H.Res. 1009 to propose implementing structured deliberation on the most serious and grave responsibility…