Prayer: The evil we do that we cannot see

We do things we consider good. We may even think we are benefiting others. At the same time, we are entangled in evil we cannot see through. We live in harmful situations we do not even perceive and that pervert our actions, even our actions for good. We buy certain products from emerging nations that are only cheap because in those countries women, men, and children are exploited under inhuman conditions.

The example reveals that there is more than just public evil. There are harmful situations and structures of injustice in every society, sustained by the personal guilt of people we do not even know. We enter into those situations as if it were a matter of course, not noticing that they are based on injustice, and we enhance them by our own actions dash and all without any evil intent.

Gerhard Lohfink, Is This All There is? P. 146-147