Abortion: The Fallen Angel's 'Hate Crime'

How is it that the intentional killing of the innocent has become so entrenched in this society, when it is so plainly evil?

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GLADE PARK, Colorado (Catholic Online) - The pervasive reality of abortion on demand in this secularist society is both horrific and perplexing. On the one hand, abortion is so utterly ugly that we can hardly imagine how people can participate in it; on the other, we are aware of the factors that seem to lead misguided and deceived women into undergoing the always deadly procedure.

We see the pressures exerted by a society which has bought the lie that there is no such thing as sin, but merely a flexible set of good or not so good choices which people are 'free' to make. We are aware of the fears which can descend upon a woman whose dire need for help is sometimes ignored or unexpressed. We are aware that men can pressure women into believing the lie that abortion is the "only choice". We know that the abortion industry is driven by greed.

Yet, still, how is it that the intentional killing of the innocent has become so entrenched in this society, when it is so plainly evil?

Consider the Northern Illinois Women's Center: it is a rather ordinary building set among a number of other buildings. Yet inside, each morning, abortionists arrive in order to engage in the business of killing the youngest among us. They flick on the lights, percolate their coffee, chat a bit, and prepare for yet another day's deplorable deeds. What drives these brokers of death?

There are other goings on at the Northern Illinois Women's Center: we see shocking images of hate directed at Jesus Christ and Christians: there are crucified chickens; there are blasphemous hand-scrawled signs too ugly to describe; there are haunting threats printed in bold, black marker, taped to the inside of windows, taunting pro-life supporters stationed outside.

Yet there is still something more, something deeper and uglier, and it can be found in such places all around the world.

There is a diabolical evil lurking behind the doors of abortion clinics. Yet, we will not fathom the ramifications of this evil until we gaze through the lens of the Church's teaching on the existence of Satan. For, just as we cannot properly understand the full dimension of Christ's sacrifice apart from the Devil and his intent, so too we cannot understand the reality of what we're up against if we ignore the Evil One's influence in a society which proclaims the taking of innocent human life as a "right" rather than an unspeakable crime.

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Scripture is clear on the fact that we have an enemy; he wields a sword of hate, deceit, and trickery; it is forged by unpardonable pride, and sets itself against all that is truly good and against Christians. That enemy is Satan. Scripture speaks of the kingdom of God as well as the kingdom of Satan; it speaks of the love of Christ and the hate of Satan; it speaks of God's goodness, light and love, as well as Satan's evil, darkness and hate.

We cannot ignore Satan's role in procured abortion. Satan hates God and His children. He takes pleasure in causing pain, wrecking lives, and destroying those souls who've aligned themselves with the mission of darkness.

Some pseudo-theologians of late identify Satan with an abstract idea of evil, as if his name is given to the tendency man has toward sinning, which is a mistaken, heretical view. Such a view is taken to the extreme and beyond by the New-Age movement. According to some of its adherents, neither the Devil nor hell exists at all. However, as the Church has taught for some twenty centuries, Satan was a free creature, a sinisterly brilliant fallen angel who possesses a tremendously powerful intellect, will, and dark malevolence beyond description.

The Apostle John affirms that the "whole world is in the power of the evil one" (1 Jn 5:19); that is, what is opposed to God in the world is under Satan's power. In the New Testament, Satan is known as the prince of demons as well as the prince of the world, which is subject to his power (cf. Lk 4:6; Jn 12:31). Jesus calls him the "prince of the world" (Jn 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). We know that Satan roams the world in an effort to seduce Christians and destroy man's soul (1 Pet 5:8). "Whence do you come?" "From roaming the earth and patrolling it" (Job 1:7).

On May 24, 1987, during a visit to the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel,the Servant of God John Paul II said, "The evil that surrounds us today, the disorders that plague our society, man's inconsistency and brokenness, are not only the results of original sin, but also the result of Satan's pervasive and dark action." Note, though, that while the Devil is indeed powerful, it is man who goes with him; for Satan can tempt us but it is we who sin of our own free will: "sin is a personal act" (cf CCC 1868); and "the root of all sins lies in man's heart" (cf. CCC 1873).

Numerous members of our society are unaware of the horror of sin and its consequences. First, according to secularist wisdom, even grave sin is seen as inconsequential; for, it is thought, "we live in an enlightened age, where those rigid restrictions formerly imposed on us have been shown to be nothing more than attacks on our freedom".

Second, due to a failure to grasp the reality of Satan, evil, and the peril of living in mortal sin, many follow the Devil unawares; i.e., they glorify Satan through their opposition to Christ.

Third, those whose sin has resulted in an allegiance (even if unknown) to Satan are blinded by that same sin, and fail to see precisely where they are standing.

Fourth, as many journey further into the resulting darkness, the ability to realize their peril and see the utter hatred that Satan holds for mankind evaporates. The fact that Satan operates by the law of slavery escapes them. He serves up sin on a silver platter, for now, enticing many to relish his offerings, tricking them into thinking little of what they do. And, in the end, unless there is repentance before death, he will hold them captive even beyond the grave.

Saint Augustine said that if God gave Satan free reign, "no man would be left alive." Further, the Evil One is not alone. His followers who live under the law of slavery are the angels who conspired with him during the fall: they are known as demons; they are many.

The deeper we gaze upon this battlefield of good versus evil, penetrating the smoke rising from the abyss by living in the light of the truth, we begin to realize all the more the gravity of our situation; we begin to understand something more of the very real, spiritual creatures who lurk behind voluntary abortion; those powers and principalities of darkness of which St. Paul wrote. (Eph. 6:12)

Above, we read of what John Paul II stated on May 24, 1987; but it was only the latter part of his statement. Here is both the former and latter: "The battle against the devil, which is the principal task of Saint Michael the archangel, is still being fought today, because the devil is still alive and active in the world. The evil that surrounds us today, the disorders that plague our society, man's inconsistency and brokenness, are not only the results of original sin, but also the result of Satan's pervasive and dark action."

In "The Gospel of Life," John Paul II warned: "To claim the right to abortion, infanticide and euthanasia, and to recognize that right in law, means to attribute to human freedom a perverse and evil significance: that of an absolute power over others and against others. This is the death of true freedom" (No. 20).

This "perverse and evil significance" is to align the human will with Perversity itself; with the Master of Evil; with the Prince of Darkness. It is to glorify Satan in worship born of the nether world.

Welcome to the culture of death. Abortion is the Fallen Angel's 'Hate Crime'

Let us seek the powerful intercession of St. Michael, the warrior whose sword is truly feared by Satan. And, let us unite ourselves under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the leadership of our Catholic Church. Let us live illumined by Christ's light, knowing our enemies for who they are, seeing reality as it is, facing the battle squarely on, unafraid. Pray fervently to Our Lady of the Rosary, for she will not leave our cause unaided.

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F. K. Bartels operates catholicpathways.com, and may be reached via email at: bartels@catholicpathways.com. He is a contributing writer for Catholic Online.

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