God doesn't cause rape

Debates about abortion aren’t typically in my wheelhouse, but reflecting on God’s activity in the world is. In particular, I am consistently fascinated—and mostly perplexed—by the theological concept of providence, the notion that God somehow controls all aspects of human history.

Yesterday an Indiana Republican running for the Senate related a strong understanding of God’s providence to abortion by claiming that pregnancies resulting from rape are the result of God’s will. Here is what Richard Mourdock said in a debate:

I struggled with it myself for a long time, and I realized that life is a gift from God, and I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something God intended to happen.