Full Question
Are we as Catholics allowed to hate the devil? And, if so, are we allowed to hate those that are doing the devil’s work?
Answer
To hate means to will evil for another person. But to will evil for another person is directly contrary to charity. Since we’re called to be charitable, it follows that we can never hate any person, including the devil. Just as God does not wish that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9), we too cannot desire or rejoice in the eternal destruction of any intelligent being.
However, this doesn’t mean we can’t hate the devil’s actions. As St. Paul writes, “Hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good” (Rom. 12:9).
This content was originally published on September 15, 2017 at www.catholic.com.