We continue with the Haiti tragedy. Since History repeats itself, we find ourselves again with a case very similar to the one concerning the ecclesiastical declarations on Aids. The archbishop of Santo Domingo, Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez, has made some public statements in which he attests that what happened in Haiti is not a divine punishment.

            We must appreciate the good intentions of the Cardinal, but the reality is that only God knows whether he is or is not right. On our part, however, it is difficult to avoid a feeling of uneasiness. How does the Cardinal know that it was not a punishment from God? A private revelation perhaps? Unfortunately, if that is the case, I must confess my skepticism towards this kind of revelation. Except for the cases of Lourdes and Fatima, in which I firmly believe –apart from the personal recognition which the visionaries have earned in each apparition, I base my support on the Church’s constant approval and blessing of them—, I have always been suspicious of the many visionaries and prophets that roam the world. I confess that I was even overtaken by some doubts concerning Pope John XXIII and his claim that the Holy Spirit had inspired him to convoke a Council. Fortunately, as time went by, all those doubts were dispelled when the post-Counciliar results were at hand for all to see.

            Unless His Eminence, Cardinal Rodríguez, has received an inspiration from Heaven, which only he can know, maybe it would be convenient to remember what the Apostle Saint Paul said, Who has ever known the mind of the Lord? Who has ever been his adviser?  (Rom 11:34). Of course, I cannot say that the earthquake was a punishment from God. If I were to do so, I would be doing exactly the same as the Cardinal, only that I lack sound basis for such an affirmation.  And so, as to whether the seism has or has not been a punishment, I can only say that it truly has every aspect of being so. In closing, it does seem to be just as risky to affirm it as to deny it. In all logic, just as in the case of Aids, if anything can be stated with all certainty it is the fact that what has happened in Haiti does not seem to be a blessing either.

            The gravity of these situations and their possible consequences should move us to think that it might be better to avoid this type of declaration, especially by those in authority. They could give rise to false impressions or provide arguments for the wicked. Someone could always say about those who make such statements that in fact they really do suspect a divine punishment. And for this reason they rush to justify God, fearing what the media and the usual mindless public figures may say. As if God had behaved like a rebellious child whose mischievous deeds ought to be hidden.

            By the same token, there will always be some people who would accuse the ecclesiastical Hierarchy –and rightly so, many times— of having an inferiority complex.

            From a practical point of view, we can draw a useful lesson from all these events. The modern World, most especially the world of Christians, has lost to such an extent all sense of sin that it does not tolerate at all the possibility of a punishment of humanity inflicted by God. He is a good God Who created Hell to leave it empty; Who made all men Christians, without their knowing it or even wanting it, because of the mere fact that, since Adam, they all are men; a God, therefore, who determined a priori –through the Incarnation of the Word—, and then confirmed a posteriori –through Redemption—the salvation of the entire Humanity; Who considers all religions as valid instruments of salvation –the followers of Buddha, the Voodoo priests, the imams from Islam, and the ministers of Jesus Christ pray together at Assisi. Can someone find here a resemblance of Anonymous Christianity and of the Universal Salvation doctrines? This is the way that leads to the conclusion that it is not possible that God punishes anybody.

            Of course, this conclusion, as well as the premises from which it is drawn, is totally false, as we shall try to prove. Two important clarifications must be made beforehand, though.

            First, If the presumption that Haiti’s tragedy carries the seal of Divine punishment proves true, and when the time for demanding responsibilities arrives, then France will the first to be challenged and also accused as the main culprit of this tragedy. Since here we cannot echo any historical disquisitions, not even superficially, let it suffice to point out that, once the independence of Haiti from France was accomplished, the latter left on the Island a population of black slaves immersed in the most appalling misery of both kinds, material and spiritual. And this is not all. France has continued impoverishing and exploiting this most unfortunate country until very recently.

            Secondly, the discussion about whether this tragedy carries the character of a divine punishment is trivial and makes little sense, because it already was definitively made clear by Jesus Christ, at least at a practical level. Let us remember the passage:

            And there were present, at that very time, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answering, said to them:

            --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 repent, you shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe and slew them: think you that they also were sinners above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem? No, I say to you: but except you repent, you shall all likewise perish (Lk 13:1—5).

            In other words, do you think that these were guiltier than all other men? But I truly say to you that if you do not repent, you shall all likewise perish; it is the Word of God. Perhaps all of us who inhabit this old world should do some reflecting before it is too late.