An answer to the Question

So the question has been possed in our class: "Why do bad things happen to innocent people?"

Simply Christian and Biblical answer: There are no innocent people.

This will be the fundamental premise of essentially all Catholic Christian Literature for the past two thousand years. When reading Chesterton, Tolkien, or O'Conner one aught to remember that they believe all man to be sinful, though inherently good. This means all mean deserves hell (God's Vengence) but is given the chance of life (God's Mercy). Flannery O'Conner specifically makes use of the premise throughout her writing.

I think G.K. Chesterton said it best: he was among a group of famous literary figures of the early twentieth century asked to write an essay on what is worng with the world. His answer was short and to the point:

Dear Sirs;

I am.

Sincerely Yours,
G.K. Chesterton