When may a Catholic use violence to fight evil or protect his family, and when should he leave it to God?
A viewer asks about the Catholic understanding of violence, specifically when it may be used to get rid of evil or protect one's family, and when it should be left to God.
Answer
We always leave it to God, but then God leaves it to us; we are his hands and feet, and we do for him what he, as a spirit, does not usually do himself. He can send an angel or an earthquake if he wants, but that is the exception, which tells us we are on our own and must use the tools and wisdom he has given us. If someone breaks into your house with a gun, you are going to try to protect yourself and overcome him if you get the opportunity, and God expects you to; he does not expect you to be a doormat for a felon. Do not put that burden on God. In fact it would be evil not to use violence to protect your family, because you are their protector, so you had better learn how to defend them.