Yes, it is true that God does not want or need sin, but He can and does use it for His purposes 5.
Here's a breakdown of this concept:
God does not cause evil: God is not the cause of evil, either directly or indirectly 7. Evil originates from human sin, stemming from the abuse of free will 7 10. God permits evil to occur, but this is different from Him causing it 6.
God's reasons for permitting evil:
- Free will: God gave humans free will, which inherently includes the possibility of choosing evil 5 10. Preventing sin would necessitate removing free will, which would fundamentally change human nature 10.
- Learning and growth: God permits evil so that humans may learn from experience, develop by overcoming obstacles, and recognize their need for God 10.
- Justice: God's withdrawal of grace that would prevent sin is a consequence of previous sins, according to Divine wisdom and justice 5.
God brings good out of evil: God is powerful enough to bring good out of evil 5. Even from the greatest moral evil, the rejection and murder of Jesus Christ, God brought the greatest good: the glorification of Christ and our redemption 2 3. Joseph's story in Genesis is another example: "You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good" 2.
Evil never becomes good: While God can bring good out of evil, this does not mean that evil itself becomes good 2. Sin is still sin, and it is not something to be desired or sought after 5.
Mystery of evil: The fact that God permits evil is a mystery 6. The reasons for this are not always clear to us, but we can trust that God has a good reason, even if we do not understand it 6. Christian faith provides the answer to the question of why evil exists 1. God illuminates the mystery of evil through Jesus Christ, who died and rose to vanquish evil 6.
[3] Catholic Encyclopedia Divine Providence
[4] CCC 324
[5] CCC 312
[7] CCC 309
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