Why does God allow evil to exist?
Catechism Meditation:
If God the Father almighty, the Creator of the ordered and good world, cares for all his creatures, why does evil exist? . . . Only Christian faith as a whole constitutes the answer to this question. . . . There is not a single aspect of the Christian message that is not in part an answer to the question of evil. ―No. 309
REFLECTION. If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why does He allow evil to exist? The answer involves understanding the nature of evil, the purpose of free will, and the greater plan that God has for creation. At the heart of this issue is human freedom. God, in His desire for a genuine relationship with His creatures, granted humanity free will—the capacity to make choices, to love, and to reject. Free will is the foundation of moral goodness but also the possibility of choosing evil. When free, intelligent beings choose to turn away from God’s love, they bring evil into the world. This rejection of God’s will results in both moral evils, like hatred and violence, and personal suffering. In our finite understanding, it can be challenging to reconcile the existence of evil with the goodness of God. Yet, the call is to trust in God’s infinite wisdom and love. Though we do not always comprehend why evils exists and suffering occurs, we can find comfort in knowing that God is always working towards the fulfillment of His good purposes.
In his article for Catholic365.com: The Problem of Evil, Matt Christenson writes: “A reason why God allows evil to exist is because He can bring tremendous good out of it. In Catholic theology, one reason why Jesus Christ became man was to serve as the most perfect, unblemished, eternal sacrifice for the atonement of mankind’s sin. He experienced torture, suffering, and pain beyond imagination at the hands of pure evil. Yet, the greatest good in human history came out of that evil: our collective atonement and eternal salvation. Many people can relate to this concept of good coming from evil. Oftentimes, it is when we hit rock bottom that we have the most meaningful transformations in our lives. For the addict who finds herself completely engulfed in substance abuse, there is a profound potential and opportunity for good that would come from a newfound life of sobriety. In fact, many stories from people who have been sober for decades will confirm that the wickedness they were once a part of led them to become a more powerful human being who now contributes to the collective good of our planet. It is hard to see the death of an innocent child as something that can lead to good. However, it is not impossible. It may depend upon the faith and worldview of the family who experiences that loss to determine just how transformative a good can come about through such a devastating evil.”
PRAYER. Dear Lord, may Your grace empower us to overcome evil and spread Your light in this world.
Timeless Wisdom Quote:
“It is not easy to explain why God permits evil; but it is impossible for an atheist to explain the existence of goodness. How could a spiritless, soul-less, cross-less, Godless universe become the center of faith, purity, sacrifice, and martyrdom? How can decency be the decent thing if there is no God? Since God is love, why should we be surprised that want of it should end in pain, hate, broken hearts, and war?” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen