Daniel McCarthy, What Conservatives Think About the Draft

Barry Goldwater:

There should no longer be any confusion about the liberal, radical and conservative positions on the draft.

Liberals favor it, but either want to make it random in its selection or extend it to social as well as military service.

Radicals want to end it or turn it to social service. They are not against compulsion. They are just against the fact, it seems to me, that the compulsion in this case is being used as part of an effort against their current heroes, the Viet Cong.

Conservatives want to end the draft–period. They do not want to extend it to any other form of service. …

Between the liberal and conservative positions lies the world of difference that marks the two philosophies.

The liberal position is based solidly upon the notion that every form of compulsion and every sacrifice of the individual may be justified in the name of ’society.’

The conservative position is based solidly upon the notion that man’s most fundamental right and responsibility is to live his own life.

This may be Barry Goldwater's position, but is it the position of Catholic teaching? I recall there being an article written by a bishop stating that the military draft or compulsory military service was immoral--I think it was posted at Zenit, but I can't find it at the moment. It seems to me that the common good may require that all participate in the defense of a community, though it is possible that some may be exempted from actually fighting. They must contirubte to the defense in some other way. The question, then, is whether the draft is the means by which this is achieved, or if it is intended for something else. (Moreover, can the selection process be problematic or unjust?)

Something I did find in the my search through the Zenit archives:
Land of Missions and Vineyards [2008-08-21] Discovering the Franciscan Legacy in California
Opus Dei Opens Its Doors to Everyone [2008-03-31] Interview With the Vicar General of the Personal Prelature