Why does God allow good people to do bad things?

[jayjay1]

Why does God allow good people to do bad things? I've always been told that it's because He has given us
free will, I just feel that there is more to it than just "free will"...

[DavidObeid]

Hi jayjay1,

Welcome to The Catholic Forum.

I think your question is confusing two different issues. 1. Why does God give us freedom? and 2. Why/how does this freedom sometimes result in evil?

God gives us freedom because He made us for union - that is relationship - with Him. In order for us to be in a relationship with God we must be able to enter into a relationship (that means we need to be free). It also means we must be able to reject that relationship.

It is because other beings (the fallen angels mainly, and our first Parents Adam and Eve) had rejected God, we are in a situation where we struggle with the weakness due to original sin and temptation. Our freedom, plus the presence of temptation, results in our susceptibility to do evil.

Does this help?

[Matthew]

This might not be helpful in answering the question but if you do bad things then you aren't a good person then right?

[DavidObeid]

That's right.

What else makes a bad person?

[MelanieM]

What's the difference then between a bad person and a sinner?

[DavidObeid]

Repentance.