The New Child Sacrifice?

Recently, I have taken the lead with my county’s Right to Life affiliate in Northern Michigan. As I pondered the prolife movement in genera,l and abortion in particular, I am left with a horrifying thought.

Is abortion the latest version of child sacrifice?

All of human history is filled with this tragedy all in worship of a god or gods. In the Old Testament, the Hebrews got off track and worshipped the gods of their neighbors. One notable instance is worship of Molech and the child sacrifice that took place in his name. Molech was worshipped as a father figure by both Ammonities and Canaanities and the child sacrifice which took place in the Hinnom Valley near Jerusalem was especially brutal.

The reasons are numerous; the victims are the same, all in the name of a false god.

There is no difference between the past and the present when it comes to children being sacrificed in the name of a god. Even if you are not Christian, science has proven that once fertilization takes place, the “clump of cells” that is rapidly growing is a human life distinct from its mother. It exists in a symbiotic relationship with his or her mother not like a tumor (as our prochoice counterparts sometimes argue).

The methods to abort this life are as brutal as the sacrifices of the past.

Almost more troubling (if that is possible) is the god that is worshipped. Only a tiny percentage (1-2%) of abortions are due to rape and even less are due to protect the life of the mother. The vast majority (over 90%) are due to vanity or worship of thyself. The reasons include: bad timing, cannot afford another baby, already have children, don’t want to be a single mother, don’t feel mature enough, would interfere with career plans, and health problems in mother or baby

All these reasons are focused on one person: me or the god of self.

This is indirect violation of the first commandment against worshipping other gods and a slap in the face of Jesus Christ.

As Christians and Catholics, in particular, we are taught our eyes should be fixed on the cross at all times. Christ was the ultimate sacrifice who died for our sins so we would have eternal life. He is God, he could do whatever he wanted and through His power could have forced obedience. Instead, He took the form of a slave and through his sacrifice won us victory over death. His suffering is the ultimate act of selflessness and love.

Anybody that is a parent and strives to be a good one knows you have to leave self absorption at the door. Kids are challenging. They can be exhausting; physically, mentally and financially but they can also bring more joy than all the world’s possessions. A funny thing happens when you focus on your kids and not on yourself – you forget you are making that choice and the alternative feels unfathomable.

Though the narcissism of our culture is troubling and the millions of children sacrificed in the name of this false god is horrifying there is a ray of hope.

It is the cross. It changes everything.

God is more powerful than any of us will ever imagine. If he will willing to take our broken form to save us through the ultimate act of suffering, how can we ever be self absorb?

This is the wonderful burden us Catholics and our fellow Christians bear. We are to serve as witness to the transformative power of the cross to show an alternative way to live life, one of selflessness and love. Narcissim never defeated death – Jesus Christ did. Our way is the one true way.

By sharing this message with our brothers and sisters with love, we can end this new form of child sacrifice. As the song goes, “And they will know we are Christians by our love.”

God bless!