Above : One of the ‘bad guys’ that US Secretary of State for War Pete Hegseth needs money to kill

On Weds March 18th 2026 The Washington Post reported that the ​Pentagon has ‌asked the White House ​to ​approve a more ⁠than $200 ​billion request ​to the U.S. Congress to ​fund ​the war in ‌Iran.

This is an example of what Mr.Hegseth wants to buy.

Tomahawk subsonic land cruise missile ……. $ 3.5 000 000

The image above shows the aftermath of the US Tomahawk cruise missile which destroyed the Shajareh Tayyebeth girls elementary school in Minab, Iran on the first day of the 2026 Iran war killing between 175 and 180 people , most of whom were schoolchildren between 7 and 12 years of age. ” It takes money to kill bad guys ”

Imagine what the $200 billion ( thats $200 000 000 000 ) that Mr Hegseth is hoping to spend on weapons that butcher women and children could be spent on .  The national average full-time teacher salary in the US stands at $74,200……….. Do the maths !

But Mr Hegseth needs the money to, in his words, ”kill the bad guys”

Above : One of the ‘bad guys’ that US Secretary of State for War Pete Hegseth needs money to kill

And what about nurses ….. Imagine how many additional nurses could be recruited if $200, 000 000 000 were spent on saving lives rather than annihilating them. The national average full time nurse salary in the US stands at $91000 ………. Do the maths !

But Mr Hegseth needs the money to, in his words, ”kill the bad guys”

Above : One of the ‘bad guys’ that US Secretary of State for War Pete Hegseth needs money to kill

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ( USCCB ) have strongly criticised the US/Israel war in Iran  urging an immediate de-escalation, diplomacy, and prayer to avoid a “tragedy of immense proportions”.

Pope Leo has urged all Catholics to pray that “the roar of bombs might cease, that weapons might fall silent, and that a space for dialogue might open, in which the voice of the peoples may be heard.”

”Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of immense proportions, I make a heartfelt appeal to all the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm. May diplomacy regain its proper role, and may the well-being of peoples, who yearn for peaceful existence founded on justice, be upheld. And let us continue to pray for peace.”

On March 6th 2026, Kevin Clarke of America magazine reminded us of the Catholic concept of a just war …. He wrote ”War-making must be a last resort, all peaceful avenues of resolution having been exhausted. The use of force must be proportional, that is, the suffering it prevents must be greater than the misery it is likely to create. The conflict cannot be the cause of more disorder and evil than those it seeks to address. In conflict, belligerents must discriminate between combatant and noncombatant, taking all measures to protect the latter.”

The US/Israeli war in Iran, unsanctioned by the UN or Congress, meets none of the criteria above. All Christians must unite to condemn this affront to humanity.

Manifesto for a Lay Pope. My promise to you; If I am elected Pope I will decree that:

All Catholics must divest themselves of any shares in Companies which manufacture weapons of war under threat of ex communication if they do not.

“I may speak in tongues of men or of angels but if I am without Love I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. I may have the gift of prophesy and know every hidden truth; I may have Faith strong enough to move mountains but if I have no Love I am nothing. I may dole out all I possess or even give my body to be burnt but if I have no Love I am none the better. Love is patient; Love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful nor conceited nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offence. Love takes no score of wrongs; does not gloat over others men’s sins but delights in the Truth. There is nothing Love cannot face; there is no limit to its Faith, its Hope and its Endurance.”
1 Corinthians 13: 1-7

my e mail is : the laypope@yahoo.com