Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 7/13/2005

Question
Dear George,

In Islam, people believe in fate (destiny), that everone is destined to do somethine, to die in that way, etc. as if God had already specified (predetermined) the course of life for man.

I would like to know whether in Christianity there is such an idea (I do not think so, although we did not choose our parents, religions, or names). Judas is not destined to deliver Jesus to the Jews; he chose it by his own free will because he likes money.

Best regards,  

Answer

                    PEACE

Dear Antoine Ghannoum,
  Your question is one that strikes at a core difference between Catholicism and Protestantism. Catholics confess man has a free will that allows man to embrace God's desired will or to reject it. Protestants say man has very limited free will or no free will.
 Luther, Calvin, you name them and you will discover most so called Reformers of the 16th century denied free will to some decree. Luther wrote a book called: Bonage of the Will; where is spells out his related heresay. Later denounced parts and came more closer to Calvin.
 The Catechism approved by pope John Paul II declares:


1704 The human person participates in the light and power of the divine Spirit. By his reason, he is capable of understanding the order of things established by the Creator. By free will, he is capable of directing himself toward his true good. He finds his perfection "in seeking and loving what is true and good."7


       your servant in Christ
            george a card