Expert: Michael Clark, Ph.D. - 2/12/2005

Question
Hello Michael Clark, Ph.d.,

Two questions:  1) I was reading an Liturgy of the Hours poem by St. Augustine on God's Creation.  He points out that our intellect is able to discern God's beauty in creation's beauty (i.e., animals, mountains, rivers, sunny days, etc.).  I agree; however, how does one explain creation that "appears" revolting to possibly the natural human senses (i.e., rats, bats, snakes, cockroaches, tornadoes, swamps, etc.)?

2)  Canon Law:  Is there a Law that forbids homosexual oriented men from entering a Seminary or Religious Life?  In that, if one has decieved about one's sexual orienation on a Seminary application, and/or the Seminary officials knew of this orientation,is the Ordination valid, especially if deceit can be proven?  (And I am not talking about a person who may have admitted his orientation or did not know it on his application, or who confessed it, and or of officials who knew of it, documented it, and believed the person had a genuine vocation.)  


Thank you,


Paul  

Answer
Hi.. I'm nor certain if St. Augustine did, but most theologians today would probably cite the "Argument from Design." This means that the universe exhibits such a high degree of organizational complexity that, so the argument goes, an intelligent designer (i.e. God) must be behind it (even revolting things).

For more on this, search Google using keywords

god argument from design

There are several good pages.

As for the instance of the tornado you mention, this might fall under the idea of “theodicy”—the defense of God's goodness in light of the observable reality of moral and natural evil.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14569a.htm

As for the Canon Law question, off the top of my head I can't say, but will suggest that you search through it. It's online.

http://www.intratext.com/X/ENG0017.htm

and

http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/canon/

--MWC