Is ALL suffering the result of sin?

[Veridicus]

I was recently reading the proceedings of the "God's Judgement and Pagan Nations" thread in "The Debate Table" and just ended up more confused about a few topics than before. As a Catholic, I figured this board would be the best place for me to get the unbiased truth based on encyclicals, doctrine, and dogma.

Anyway, does the Roman Catholic Church teach that ALL suffering comes directly as a result of sin? And by 'ALL' I include the suffering associated with natural disasters, disease, droughts, etc.? Do we believe God 'pushes' every hurricane toward or away from cities? Do we believe God 'compels' every nosocomial staph infection to either kill or recede from a patient?

I guess really my question deals with the depth (if any) of a somewhat 'deistic' view of how the natural world works in relationship to God. I mean do we believe God constantly causes gravity to work (to an either good or bad end) or do we believe that he created gravity in His infinite wisdom and that gravity works (either for good or bad) unless he steps in and intervenes?

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
11/1 - All Saints

Veridicus,

Good question. In short, the answer is yes*. Good to see someone from Evansville - I'm studying to be a priest in the Diocese of Evansville. Say "hi" to Fr. Dusty the next time you see him.

Yours,
Pio Nono

* = All suffering as it exists now is a result of [i]original[/i] sin. Essentially, with the Fall, a wrench was thrown into the works and the universe doesn't operate as it was designed to. We're redeemed from the inside-out, but we still feel the effects of original sin and will continue to do so until the end of time. Our God is not "deistic" in that He doesn't sit from afar and allow evils to happen without a care for us; neither, though, is he "occasionalistic" in that He personally directs every single last occasion with His almighty hand. I wish I could provide a more comprehensive answer, but that's all I got right now. Hopefully someone else will be able to expand. Peace.