Suffering from Natural Disasters

Franciscan friar Pat McCloskey, OFM, addressed questions regarding why God allows natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods to cause suffering and death.

McCloskey noted that while humans cause much pain through their own actions, natural disasters result from atmospheric conditions rather than specific divine decisions to punish individuals. He argued that God does not choose which person is struck by lightning or which areas a wildfire destroys, even though God is ultimately responsible for the atmospheric conditions that allow these events to occur.

The response suggested that viewing disasters as divine punishment may stem from imposing human concepts of time and cause-and-effect onto God. McCloskey stated that while the loss of life and property is regrettable, these events do not prove that God is indifferent to human suffering.