Things have changed since I was applying for conscientious objection. I grew up under the draft and registered at 18. My draft card was 16-98-50-537 Which means that I was the 537th registrant for the year 1950 at draft board 98 in area 16 which was probably for Louisiana.
Having been through Catholic school through high school, including 3 years of diocesan seminary training, I felt that no one had overruled the commandment that said “Thou shall not kill” or Jesus’ commandment to love my enemies as God loved me.
I was told that as a Catholic I couldn’t be a conscientious objector. My father, my uncles and at least one of my grand fathers had been involved with the military, my uncles were invited to volunteer during the Korean “war” right after college.
While in college I found some great resources, a Christopher’s pamphlet by Joseph Fahey Peace War and the Christian Conscience, and another that was sold by the Fellowship of Reconciliation that was on Catholics and Conscientious Objection by Tom Cornell ( I think). with that and 17 14inch sheets of yellow legal paper I wrote my reasons for being a conscientious objector. With about 20 references writing to my draft board, I was granted 1-O status after appearing before my local board.
After the war was over I thought that in order to heal wounds of the nation I would not speak about my c.o. status believing that we learned from Vietnam.
I have become involved with the national Catholic Peace Movement through Pax Christi, and have done some indepth reflection. I believe that Constantine co opted the followers of Jesus into a religion that gave to Caesar the things that were God’s. If God wanted us to fight he surely could make things a lot easier for us, like providing us with weapons or not offering our enemies life to begin with.
More later. In the mean time you can check my website http://members.cox.net/norbert01.