What if we looked at Fry's rant as the beginning of a prayer? The first step toward a prayer? I think we all agree with the basic idea that we wouldn't want a God who could be stumped by Fry's question? If God truly has no reason for suffering (as Fry implies) then He isn't the God we believe in. So...I wonder if Fry's questioning isn't similar to Ivan Karamazov and the Grand Inquisitor... a struggle to deny God made by an immature mind desperate to find some way to prove that God can't be real. But afraid that He is

....meant, is just childish. Wouldn't get a prize in a school debate (Fry's that is).

Stephen Fry used to come across to me as an inteligent enough chap. Nowadays, he just disappoints me. Knowing the truth, as so well said by Father Robert, his argument, while well

Great video, but some disturbing comments here. The general reaction seems to be 'how dare he' or simply aggressive dismissal of Stephen Fry's point of view. I don't see how we can ever be taken seriously by our atheist compatriots with aggressive responses like that. Can we not learn from people like Mother Teresa who faced suffering head on and provided an example of how we can turn suffering into good? Yes, I know she was lambasted by some prominent atheists, but others turned to God as a result.

I don't think this response is aggressive or dismissive of Fry's position, nor does it have a "how dare you" tone. Rather it acknowledges the view as a valid issue to ponder and provides several answers to it, including the first know time this very point was advanced by Job in the Bible. Simply answering a question with strong supporting arguements is not being "aggressive". It is simply offering and appropriately supported answer to the charge.

Who is this guy? He's got a lot of nerve. Maybe he needs pictures to get it , he needs to see the concentration camp and your investigation on suffering in the Catholicism series. Send him a copy of that and the hope of victory in the resurrection of our lord. Does he not understand the level of suffering our Christ endured? Oh my lord understands bone cancer. Perhaps this man Fry has a name indicative of his final destination.

Ed Griffin - I agree. And no you are not negative. Your comments are constructive. Fr. Barron is brilliant and his response to Frye is thought provoking. Fr Barron provided a platform to which Frye could now respond if he is interested in a healthy debate. I know Fr. Barron encourages and wants to cultivate a society in which we have these types of discussions. However, for someone like me who can understand (mostly) Fr. Barron's points but cannot regurgitate them in a discussion - this post is difficult for me to use in every day discussions. Is there a way that Fr. Barron can help me with a more simple approach to such a complex question. Maybe that's just it - when others reduce God's existence to "talking points" it doesn't do the discussion justice.

Oh, but God is responsible for the good of the world. God IS goodness and Light. Everything God created "God saw that it was good" God is good; whereas, the devil has come to kill, steal and destroy. There is 'good', there is 'evil'. God is inherently good, so it's not He that's doing the bad. He didn't do those thing to Job either - but He did allow it. Just like He allows things today. It's up to us how we respond. Do we turn to Him, or do we turn to hate? And, He also sees beyond the present situations into eternity.

A wonderful job by Father Barron. I also have written about God and the problem of suffering: http://tinyurl.com/oxj694o and I take a bit of a different track. I believe a lot of this come down to a matter of God's gift of free will. You cannot have true free will without the ability to truly doubt. Food for thought and God bless.

A wonderful job by Father Barron. I also have written about God and the problem of suffering: http://tinyurl.com/oxj694o

The stmbling block in my humble opinion is Christ and his SUFFERING we Catholics gain an insight into suffering when we meditate on Our Sovereign Lord's Sorrowful Passion. That Experience Christ went through no human being could ever imagine how deep the pain went for Our Lord. If you cannot believe in Jesus Christ as THE Messiah for all mankind then you will argue like Mr Fry..If you ntake the time and make the effort to pray meditate fast and contemplate the word of then the Holy Spirit will reveal to you all you need to know.

Father, I hear you. I only wish you got closer to the "bone marrow" of the argument. The human emotion of a person wrestling with their faith and a disease on their child. In many videos you do this quite well. You are too much in the head (intellect). Job is a springboard for getting closer to the human dilemma of facing your child with cancer. You do it when you talk about heaven and hell and others. Fry is taking an extreme as most families he sees do not have a child with cancer so he has gone to the outer edge to substantiate his claim. I just didn't feel you get inside the argument but rather you stayed with Job and a more intellectual approach. Listen you are light years ahead of me on the intellectual side of things. If we could better draw on the emotional side of the argument to "feel" the correctness of your answer, it would be a very terrific accomplishment. I apologize if I seem negative, as I really don't want to be. It is a tough one.

There is a simple answer to him. Not only the story of Job, we have suffering in this world not just so we can learn and grow in Christ's Mercy. We also have people in this world who have never been cleansed of Original Sin. People in this world that do not know or believe in God in Christ mercy. The additives that are added to our food causes disease isn't it just a simple to say that perhaps the people the scientists that don't have faith that are about making money only could be the reason that sickness and illness is in our world keep getting worse. Face holds us to accountability people with no faith have no accountability. Our world is in desperate need of reconciliation. If we all examined all of our actions in the effects they have on other people a lot of things in our world will change and people would ultimately be able to see with eyes of faith that God is very much alive and real!

Great as always. Forgive me for saying that Mr Fry did not mention the problem of global hunger, no doubt because he obviously consumes enough food to regularly feed a small village. i also wonder how many trips he has made to children's cancer wards. What would he say if he somehow stumbled into one, "sorry, you are suffering a meaningless death in a meaningless universe governed by pure chance". Really? i too have followed the new athiests, especially the most erudite and entertaining of them all, the late, great(pun intended) Chris Hitchens. i am amazed, and yes reassured, the shallow, petty and narrow minded nature of their "reasoning". Thank you Father for engaging are deluded brothers and sisters

ThingsI'm not convinced by your argumentation. God is not an item in the universe and therefore He's not responsable neither for the sufferings nor for the good the World.