Does God punish the innocent?

[petr]

How can I respond to this question from a friend. She works in Social Services as a counselor to children who have been abused. It’s heartbreaking I’m sure. But, her sense of "what Catholics think about God is wrong and wonky. I would like to set that straight.

The main idea is this: “God is constantly punishing people to correct their behavior in order to bring a better good.” Very Old Testament. In her case God is punishing innocent children to teach lessons in Faith. How can I respond?

Friends Quote: “I can’t really subscribe to the idea that raping a two year old is in God’s plan for the child or those in the child’s life. He could find better ways to teach lessons on faith.”

 

[JohnDamian]

Luke 13:2-5, Says Jesus *Think you that these Galileans were sinners above all the men of Galilee, because they suffered such things? No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe, and slew them: think you, that they also were debtors above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem? No, I say to you; but except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish. *

Job 36:22-25, Says Eliu *Behold, God is high in his strength, and none is like him among the lawgivers. Who can search out his ways? or who can say to him: Thou has wrought iniquity? Remember that thou knowest not his work, concerning which men have sung. All men see him, every one beholdeth afar off. *

Job 1:21, Says Job * Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord.*

Not all who suffer deserve to suffer more than those who do not suffer; but all of us are imperfect; we should not judge those evils that befall us; for all that can be taken from us has been given to us. Who are we to judge God that he takes away that which he has given, we mortals?

 

[Nec5]

There is also the issue of free will again. Those are people doing the punishing. Since she’s sticking to the Old Testament approach, those abusers will get what’s coming to them in the end.

 

[PAboy57]

From the Catholic Encyclopedia –

Eighth beatitude : Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

When after all this the pious disciples of Christ are repaid with ingratitude and even “persecution” (verse 10) it will be but a new blessing, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

So, by an inclusion, not uncommon in biblical poetry, the last blessing goes back to the first and the second. The pious, whose sentiments and desires whose works and sufferings are held up before us, shall be blessed and happy by their share in the Messianic kingdom, here and hereafter. And viewed in the intermediate verses seem to express, in partial images of the one endless beatitude, the same possession of the Messianic salvation.

My thoughts – we all know how Jesus loved the children. I consider a 2yr old pious and think they will have the kingdom of heaven. Her suffering for “justice’ sake” will make her a saint.