Archives for April 7, 2010

Once more the Catholic Church is mired in scandal. While the sale of indulgences does not seem to have returned, the church apparently has had serious problems with sexual abuse. These problems include the abuse itself as well as what the church has done (or not done) about it.

While I was horrified and sickened by what I learned about these evil deeds, I also wondered what these incidents tell us about God.

While the misdeeds were done by human beings, those in the church hierarchy claim a special relationship with God. Apparently God did not use this special relationship to guide them away from their crimes. Also, obviously enough, God did nothing to stop these misdeeds. While it is well established that God does not act to help people in general, it might be thought that He would at least take some action when His agents on earth are sexually assaulting children. But, once again, He did nothing.  The hierarchy of the church also did little or nothing. The Pope also has really done nothing either. Since he is supposed to be infallible in matters of faith, perhaps it must be inferred that God is fine with what has been done.

Then again, perhaps it makes more sense to infer that there is no one watching over the Catholic Church or the world. No one, that is, other than us.

Of course, the latest sexual abuse horror stories are just more examples in the age old problem of evil. They are, however, more vivid because the misdeeds were perpetrated by priests and then covered up by a church.

Although I have had moments of faith, it is rather hard to believe people who claim that God is a good and cares about us as individuals. I have never seen any evidence of this and, in fact, see a relentless onslaught of evidence to the contrary. If God does exist, He clearly is unwilling or unable to help us, thus making claims about his love seem to be little more than wishful thinking and empty lies.

Naturally, I am open to evidence to the contrary and would love to see clear and verifiable evidence of God acting in a way consistent with His alleged attributes of love, goodness, and so on. Any takers? Oh, no bible stories-unless you can provide objective evidence backing up such tales.