Columban, Paul McCartin is part of a group which has been protesting Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s visit to Yasakuni war shrine in Tokyo. He was recently asked to make a statement to the court about why he was protesting. 
Paul McCartin at the court room. Image: Paul McCartin
Statement of Interest
Introduction
My name is Paul McCartin. I am a Catholic priest, a member of the Missionary Society of St Columban, from Australia. I have lived in Japan for over 30 years. I am grateful to the Court for allowing me this opportunity to explain why I am offended and hurt by Prime Minister Abe’s official visits to Yasukuni Shrine.
One reason I am offended is that the visits, coming at a time when the government is radically revising the role of the military and plans to revise the Constitution, contravene the principle of separation of Church and State. Yasukuni Shrine is a religious institution. By visiting the Shrine, Prime Minister Abe supports the Shrine religion.
There are also problems with the Shrine itself. In Yushukan the history of the Asia-Pacific War is not portrayed accurately. Atrocities committed by the Japanese military are glossed over. There is no honest admission of, or apology for, Japan’s war crimes. There is much attention to the suffering of Japanese people, but very little to the suffering of the people in the countries invaded by Japan. The Prime Minister appears to condone this refusal to admit the truth of Japan’s war crimes.
Also, I have a problem with Yasukuni Shrine arbitrarily enshrining the souls of the war dead. What about the rights of the war dead who do not wish to be enshrined there?
Japan’s Attack on Australia
My father and five of his brothers, as well as one of my mother’s brothers, all served in the military during the War in which Darwin was bombed by Japanese bombers and Sydney attacked by Japanese submarines. My father’s eldest brother, George, was killed in action on Bougainville on July 31, 1945. Many Australian prisoners of war suffered atrociously constructing the Burma Railway. 70 years later, there are still Australians who become enraged when reminded of the brutality of the Japanese military and the terrible suffering of Australian prisoners of war.
Recent books, such as ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’, and films, such as ‘The Railway Man’, remind us of all this.
Reconciliation between Japan and Australia
One reason I live in Japan is to promote reconciliation between Japan and Australia. Other Catholic priests and Buddhist priests also have worked for reconciliation for many years. They have conducted funeral rites for Japanese prisoners of war who were shot when they escaped in Cowra in Australia. I am very pleased that some former Japanese soldiers have confessed to war crimes. Former Australian soldiers also have confessed to war crimes.
Opposition to All War
I condemn all war, not just Japan’s war against the countries of Asia and the Pacific. With many other Australians, I am opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in which Australia is involved.
Politicians and others who desire war sometimes accuse those opposed to a war of not supporting “our troops.” This is a device they use to prevent criticism of involvement in war. If a war is unjust, soldiers should not participate in the war, and we have no obligation to support them.
The Catholic Church’s Mistakes
It is well known that the Catholic Church has frequently ignored the teaching of its founder, Jesus Christ, and participated in some of the worst atrocities in human history: the Crusades, the Inquisition, colonization. In recent years popes have apologized for some of these crimes.
All true religions desire peace. On the contrary, Yasukuni Shrine seems to glorify war and Prime Minister Abe’s visits to the Shrine ignore the wishes of all those who desire peace.
My Request to the Court
Nothing is more important than peace, but Yasukuni Shrine affirms war. I hope that the Court will recognize that Prime Minister Abe’s visits to the Shrine seriously damage the efforts towards peace of not only Japanese people, but all people who have reflected on their histories, apologized to each other and worked for peace for many years.I humbly request that this Court decide in favor of all those people who desire peace and an end to war.
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