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I regard the principle of conscription of life as a flat contradiction of all our cherished ideals of individual freedom, democratic liberty and Christian teaching.

War is wrong. Conscription for war is inconsistent with freedom of conscience, which is not merely the right to believe but to act on the degree of truth that one receives, to follow a vocation which is God-inspired and God-directed.

Justifying conscription to promote the cause of liberty is one of the most bizarre notions ever conceived by man! Forced servitude, with the risk of death and serious injury as a price to live free, makes no sense.

None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army. To keep ours armed and disciplined is therefore at all times important.

War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.

With no draft, the only people who went to war were those who wanted to, or at least those who wanted to join the military.

We must permit the youth of the land who would bear arms to decide whether or not there should be war.

Maybe the answer to Selective Service is to start everyone off in the army and draft them for civilian life as needed.

A military presence does not need to be used to be useful.

As far as military necessity will permit, religiously respect the constitutional rights of all.