In the face of increasing global unrest, Bernard Jones Jr. and his wife, Doris, took drastic steps to ensure their family’s safety. When they built their dream home in California’s Inland Empire, they spared no expense, adding a grotto swimming pool, a home theater, and a fruit orchard. Yet, the most notable feature was an underground bunker, a refuge designed to withstand even the most catastrophic events.
“The world’s not becoming a safer place,” Bernard explained. “We wanted to be prepared.”
This bunker, tucked away beneath a private basketball court, includes sleeping arrangements for 25 people, a pair of kitchens, and a self-sustaining energy source. It provides water, electricity, clean air, and food – all essential elements for survival in a potential nuclear crisis. Jones expressed his reasoning bluntly: “If there was a nuclear strike, would you rather go into the living room or go into a bunker? If you had one, you’d go there too.”
Such measures of preparation have become increasingly popular in a world where geopolitical tensions, particularly nuclear threats, seem to escalate by the day. In 2023, global weapons spending surged to $91.4 billion, a stark reminder of the growing risks of war. As these concerns grow, so does the market for private bunkers. From basic shelters to luxurious underground mansions, these bunkers are being purchased by those seeking a measure of security in a world that can feel unstable.
However, there is concern among many, including Catholic leaders and ethicists, about the underlying message that bunkers convey. While some see them as a practical measure against disaster, others argue that they reflect a misguided approach to the problem. Critics contend that these shelters promote the illusion that nuclear war is survivable, detracting from the true moral imperative to focus on the eradication of nuclear weapons altogether. The Catechism of the Catholic Church urges that “peace is the fruit of justice” (CCC 2304), calling on the faithful to work toward a world where weapons of mass destruction are no longer seen as a solution to conflict.
FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, maintains that the best course of action in the event of a nuclear attack is not to invest in an underground refuge but rather to seek shelter indoors and away from walls for a day or more, using existing structures like basements for protection from radioactive fallout. This guidance is in stark contrast to the increasing market for private bunkers. Yet, as Ron Hubbard, CEO of Atlas Survival Shelters, observes, many people feel safer with the idea of a designated place of refuge. “People are uneasy and they want a safe place to put their family,” Hubbard remarked. “It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and other global crises, the demand for such shelters has skyrocketed. Hubbard reported a surge in bunker sales following Russia’s use of a hypersonic missile in Ukraine in late 2024, underscoring the public’s growing fear of global conflict.
But while survivalism and disaster preparedness may offer a sense of security, Catholic teachings call for a deeper reflection on the root causes of such fear. According to the Church, peace must be built on justice and the dignity of all human life. The proliferation of nuclear weapons is a grave threat to this dignity, and the faithful are called to be advocates for disarmament and global peace. As Pope Francis has emphasized, “the use of nuclear weapons is immoral” (Pope Francis, Hiroshima, 2019), and efforts must be made to ensure these weapons are never used again.
It is crucial, therefore, for Catholics to consider how their efforts to prepare for disaster might also reflect their commitment to Christ’s call for peace. While securing one’s family from harm is a natural and commendable instinct, Catholics are called to look beyond mere survivalism and work for a world that does not rely on the threat of mass destruction.
Alicia Sanders-Zakre of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons reminds us that “bunkers are not a tool to survive a nuclear war but a tool to psychologically endure the possibility of one.” The true answer to the threats posed by nuclear weapons lies not in building underground shelters but in advocating for their abolition and striving for a world where peace reigns. As St. John Paul II stated, “The promotion of peace…requires a commitment to eliminating the threat of nuclear war” (Message for the World Day of Peace, 1984).
While private bunkers continue to be a response to increasing global tensions, the Catholic response must be one rooted in faith and moral action. Catholics are called to not only prepare their homes but to prepare their hearts for the Kingdom of God, working tirelessly toward a world where the threat of nuclear destruction is eliminated, and the dignity of every person is upheld.
