Deacon James Toner on Rediscovering the Idea of the Soldier of Christ

"Blessed be the Lord, my rock
who trains my arms for battle,
who prepares my hands for war (Psalm 144).

"During the 1970s, the United States Army descended into chaos. Discipline, tradition, morale - all were lost during, after, or because of the Vietnam War. I do not mean to argue here for or against the justice and strategic prudence of that war; I do not mean to argue here to support or to oppose the Army's leadership during the morally and politically frenetic challenges of the late 1960s and the 1970s; I do mean to argue here, however, that there is, or could be, a remarkable correspondence between the remedies chosen by good and dedicated Army officers in the 1980s, as they sought to save the Army from the depredations of ignorant and evil officers, and the remedies which could be employed by good and holy bishops in the 2020s, as they seek to save Christ's Church from the depredations of ignorant and evil bishops (and their minions)."

In a recent commentary, Deacon James H. Toner, Professor Emeritus of Leadership and Ethics at the U.S. Air Force Air War College, reflected on the appropriateness of the concept of Soldier of Christ.

To access Deacon Toner's complete essay, please visit:

Crisis Magazine: Time to Rediscover the Idea of the Soldier of Christ (23 OCT 18)