Archbishop of Chicago Issues "Call to Conscience" on War's Portrayal
Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, has issued a statement titled “A Call to Conscience,” addressing the human impact of the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The statement criticizes the portrayal of war online, particularly noting instances where it is treated similarly to a video game.
Critique of War's Digital Portrayal
Cardinal Cupich referred to recent bombardments, stating that after U.S. and Israeli missile strikes resulted in numerous casualties in Iran, the official White House X account posted a video. This clip combined action movie scenes with actual strike footage.
This clip was captioned: 'JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY.'
The Archbishop described this treatment of "a real war and real suffering" as concerning. This concern is especially significant given the reported deaths of hundreds of Iranian civilians, including children, and six U.S. soldiers, alongside the displacement of hundreds of thousands.
Media's Role and Desensitization
The Cardinal's statement also discussed the role of media and technology in shaping public perception of conflict. He observed that the boundary between the battlefield and the living room has diminished, leading to a moral crisis in how violence is viewed.
He stated that war has become a "spectator sport or strategy game," a phenomenon journalists reportedly refer to as "gamifying" war. This linguistic choice, according to the Archbishop, "strips away the humanity of real people."
Cupich highlighted what he characterized as a "profound moral failure," noting that a military "hit" represents a grieving family. He argued that prioritizing entertainment and profit over empathy overlooks suffering.
He criticized the U.S. government's perceived attitude of treating the suffering of the Iranian people as entertainment. This approach, he suggested, risks the loss of humanity by desensitizing observers to the actual costs of war.
The American people understand that the events in Iran constitute war, not entertainment, and that Iran is a nation of people, not a video game.