Can a Catholic believe the U.S. was justified in dropping atomic bombs on Japan?
The short answer
It is problematic. The Catechism condemns every act of war aimed at the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities and their inhabitants. In just-war teaching the acts of war, not only the cause, must be just; destroying civilian populations and terrorizing them into surrender, as at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, are unjust acts of war.
The Catechism
Every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man that merits firm condemnation; modern weapons, especially atomic, biological and chemical, make such crimes possible (CCC 2314; Gaudium et Spes 80).
Just acts, not just causes
Under just-war doctrine, not only must the cause be just; the acts of war must be just too. Using weapons to destroy civilian populations, as with the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is unjust, as is terrorizing civilians to force surrender, which was part of the strategy.
Conclusion
It is therefore problematic for a Catholic to try to justify the decision.
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