Tarazona, Spain, Jan 28, 2010 / 11:08 am
In an emotional pastoral letter, Bishop Demetrio Martinez of Tarazona, Spain reflected on why catastrophes, such as Haiti's January 12 earthquake occur. He explained that such tragedies can only be understood with the light of God, who is always with the victims.
The immediate reaction to the tragedy in Haiti, “from all parts of the world, has been to come to the aid of the victims who are suffering,” he wrote. “Suffering is something that is common to us all; it breaks down barriers and makes us all feel we are brothers and sisters.”
However, he said, in the midst of our response, the question also arises: “Who is to blame? Why do these things happen? Couldn’t God have prevented this?”
“Man feels helpless in the face of so much suffering,” the bishop continued. “The attitude of the believer is one of renewing our adoration of God and asking for His light.”