Off courese two nouns combined by 'and' should normally take plural verb. However, when the nouns/words refer to the same person/thing, it should take a singular verb. 'evil and suffering' is usually used together as a one unit. This is why, i think it most probably should take singular verb not plural.
Refer to the following links and try to search for the combination: 'evil and suffering', you will find singular verb:
http://biologos.org/questions/problem
http://www.thatreligiousstudieswebsi...ring_intro.php
http://carm.org/why-there-evil-and-suffering-world
Again, my assumption may not be valid. But one thing is for sure that if 'evil and suffering' refers to the same thing it will take singular verb otherwise plural verb.