Evil

Evil The Problem of Evil Theists grapple with the problem of evil because if there is an all-powerful good God, then why does evil exist? The difficulty begins when we try to fit God into categories of human thought. God cannot be captured in a category. All categories referring to God act metaphorically pointing at a reality that we cannot define. The contradiction is not metaphysical, existing not in reality, but logical, existing in the categories of thought that we make.  Views on the Relationship of God and Evil  
 * Evil ** is a privation meaning that it is the loss of something, which due to the nature of the thing in question ought to be present. To know what is being deprived, we must first know what ought to be there. Evil is not a positive state opposing good. The wicked are that who value as good things and acts that are evil.
 * Super Sovereign View ** claims that God is the sole and only causal agent; nothing happens unless God causes it to happen. If this view is the case then either God does evil or evil isn’t evil and we are not morally responsible because we have no freewill. **Absentee Lord View** holds that God, if He exists at all, leaves everything to happen on its own merit. There is no revelation, miracles, or blessings. God is not responsible for good or evil; stuff just happens.
 * Providential God View ** states that God causes some events and only permits others to allow for the autonomy in his creation. Humans have a free will and the capacity to know what is good from evil, so we can love.
 * Paradox of Effects ** refers to the fact that good can follow in the wake of evil and evil in the wake of good (0312). Had history not occurred just as it has other people may have been called into existence instead of us. We are born into a world in progress where we inherit both the good and evil resulting from those actions made in the past. Our actions will contribute to what those yet to be born will inherit.

**Cooperation with Evil**
Catholics should never seek an evil end or employ an evil means. It’s not always evident when we are cooperating with evil. The Church offers some categories to help us sort it out. The **Principal** is the person or persons who form intent with consent resulting in the fullest moral responsibility. **Accomplice** refers to a person cooperates formally with an act. **Formal Cooperation** meaning to share the evil intent with consent (Moral liability). **Accessory** refers to a person who does not offer formal, but rather offers **Immediate Material Cooperation** meaning to directly participate with consent, but do not share the intent (Moral liability). **Auxiliary** refers to a person who offers **Mediated Material Cooperation** meaning that the cooperation in the evil is indirect with consent while doing another good. Moral liability depends on how proximate or remote the cooperation, which evaluates how close it is in a line of casual events. Necessary or Free cooperation evaluates how needed is the cooperation for the evil to occur? Bystander offers no cooperation and has no moral liability. //__ The Clinic __// //Mr. Misanthrope owns Gehenna Abortion Clinic. Dr. Duffledoom performs abortions at the Gehenna clinic with consent. Nurse Nicely is not pro-abortion, but assists the doctor because the clinic pays so well. Mr. Tinker is the custodian of the building complex where the clinic is located. Ms. Lane operated the snowplow on the street where the clinic is located after the big storm.// ** Cooperation ** || ** Character ** || Principal || Creates the intent with consent || Mr. Misanthrope || Accomplice || Formal Cooperation || Dr. Duffledoom || Accessory || Immediate Material Cooperation || Nurse Nicely || Auxiliary || Mediated Material Cooperation || Mr. Tinker || Bystander || No Cooperation || Ms. Lane || We should never participate (take an active role), facilitate (help others to act) or encourage evil (suggest or sustain).
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