Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Jan 21, 2010 / 22:57 pm
Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, has firmly rejected the idea that the tragedy in Haiti was a punishment from God, as some have claimed.
In an exclusive interview with Catholic News Agency, Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez “emphatically” rejected the thought that God willed the January 12 earthquake as a punishment, as some reporters had suggested in recent questions to the cardinal.
“I have always maintained that God is a God of love. God can permit this in order to shake the consciences of insensitive people who see so many in need but do nothing,” he explained.
“We are helping many people while others have washed their hands of this,” the cardinal continued. For this reason, he said, “I emphatically reject the idea that this is a punishment from God. How can God be pleased with the deaths of so many? I completely reject that, and besides, theologically that cannot be explained.”