This episode is about the recent expiration of the New START nuclear weapons treaty between the United States and Russia, with no new agreement on the horizon, and how this situation looks from the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching.

Here are references and additional resources.

1. Russian and U.S. nuclear arsenals could expand for the first time in three decades. Feb 3, 2026
2. The U.S. Needs to do Something about New START. Posted on the American Security Project website Jan 26, 2026
3. Which Countries Have Nuclear Weapons? Nuclear arsenals by country
4. The US and Russia’s nuclear weapons treaty is set to expire. Here’s what’s at stake Analysis January 26, 2026
5. Catechism of the Catholic Church scroll down to sections 2314-2315
6. Lapse of last US-Russia nuclear treaty ‘simply unacceptable,’ says Archbishop Coakley February 3, 2026
7. What does the Catholic Church teach about nuclear weapons? Aug 19, 2020 Good summary of papal and bishop conference statements from 1954-2020
8. Pope Leo XIV, bishops commemorate 80th anniversary of atomic bombing of Japan Aug 6, 2025
9. Statements from US Conference of Catholic Bishops on nuclear deterrence: 1983 Pastoral Letter on War and Peace, scroll down to page 2 section I.B.; 1993 10th Anniversary Reflection, scroll down to section II.E.1.1.
10. 1998 Statement signed by 75 US Catholic Bishops (but not the entire USCCB) stating that the conditions for the moral acceptance of nuclear deterrence are not being met
11. Podcast website with full transcripts for this episode and all other episodes

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