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Question
Hello, Father. My brother has been away from the Church for several years.
He says he cannot believe that a God who is supposed to be good and loving
and omnipotent would allow humans to suffer. For example, he mentioned
the D.C. Sniper (remember that guy?). My brother asked me why God didn't
cause the gun to malfunction each time the Sniper pulled the trigger, since it
is within God's power to do anything. He had other example too, but the
running theme is why doesn't God always intervene to prevent suffering. I
don't know what to say to him, and I would love some advice on how to
respond. I would also appreciate it if you and anyone reading this post might
pause for a moment and say a prayer for a change in my brother's heart.
Thank you!
Hi, Janna:
This is a tough one, of course: why does God allow suffering and evil if He is all-Good? I would recommend that you do a search at www.catholic.com with the key words of "God allows suffering."
Your brother needs to realize that without God, nothing ot nobody would exist; and without God we would have not any good thing. Suffering and evil is the result of a defect in being or doing of something, whether with or without moral guilt. God allows suffering and evil that are the result of the misuse of free-will; to be perfectly happy is to possess God and eternal life in relationship/friednship with Him. This does not exist in its perfection here-and-now; we wait and strive in hope... we trust in God's promises, but do not possess them all in their fullness. To possess God in His fullness is to be in Heaven, experiencing the Beatific Vision: we are not in Heaven now, only beginning to allow the Savior Jesus Christ to draw all people to Himself and to the Father.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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