In times of war, Americans often turn to faith.
We pray for the safety of those in uniform. We pray for families caught in the crossfire. We pray for peace. That instinct reflects something good in us — a recognition that even in conflict, there are moral limits we must not abandon.
But recently, something different has entered our national conversation.
We have heard calls to pray for victory in explicitly Christian terms, language that suggests American military action carries divine favor. That should give us pause. The United States is a nation of many faiths and beliefs. Our military serves all of them — and acts not in the name of any religion, but under the Constitution.
At the same time, another voice has emerged, offering a very different perspective.
Pope Leo XIV has called for a ceasefire, urging leaders to reopen the path to dialogue and warning that violence cannot bring the justice or peace that people seek. His message is not political. It is moral.
And it raises an important question for all of us: What role should faith play in moments like this?
Faith can be a source of comfort, humility and reflection. It can remind us that every life has dignity and that the consequences of war extend far beyond strategy or politics. Properly understood, faith does not make us more certain — it makes us more careful.
That is especially important in a democracy like ours.
The separation of church and state is not about excluding faith from public life. It is about ensuring that no government claims divine authority for its actions. It protects both religion and democracy — allowing individuals to believe freely, while requiring public policy to be debated, justified and accountable to the people.
When leaders suggest that military action is aligned with God’s will, that line begins to blur. It becomes harder to question decisions. Harder to ask whether the facts are sound, whether the strategy is wise, or whether the human cost is justified.
That is not where we should be.
New Hampshire has a long tradition of independent thinking and civic responsibility. We value careful judgment over certainty, and accountability over rhetoric. Those values matter even more in times of conflict.
Supporting our troops and seeking peace are not opposing ideas. They are part of the same responsibility — to act with both strength and restraint, and to remember that the ultimate goal is not victory alone, but a lasting and just peace.
Faith has a role to play in that effort — but not as a justification for war.
It should be a voice that calls us to conscience. A voice that reminds us to ask hard questions. A voice that insists that even in the most difficult moments, we do not lose sight of our shared humanity.
In that respect, the call for a ceasefire is not a sign of weakness. It is a reminder of what we should be striving for.
And it is worth listening to.
David Preece is a state representative and the executive director of the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission. He lives in Manchester.