In Ignatian spirituality, we learn to discern the movements of spirits—those that draw us closer to God and those that subtly lead us away. For those practiced in this discernment, the evil spirit does not come clumsily or overtly. It is not a shouting adversary but a cunning whisperer, cloaking itself in righteousness to ensnare even the most devout. St. Ignatius teaches that the evil spirit adapts its tactics, employing deceit and half-truths to corrupt what is good and noble.
When I reflect on the current pro-life movement, I see not just a political struggle but a spiritual battlefield. The ideals of protecting innocent life—so central to the message of Jesus—are noble. Yet, like a wily general, the evil spirit exploits the movement’s zeal and transforms it into a source of harm, even to the very lives it seeks to protect.
The Advanced Tactics of the Evil Spirit
For those of us who strive to live the Exercises of St. Ignatius, the evil spirit no longer tempts us with base desires. Instead, it cloaks itself in what seems good. It whispers: Your cause is just; therefore, any means to achieve it are justified. This is a subtle distortion of truth, for it turns a righteous passion into rigidity, zealotry, and even cruelty.
The evil spirit plays on our desire for control and victory, urging us to silence doubt, ignore criticism, and dismiss the human faces of those we oppose even those we intend to help. Instead of inspiring compassion, it inspires pride. Instead of fostering dialogue, it sows division. Instead of focusing on Christ’s love for the vulnerable, it subtly shifts the focus onto our own righteousness and power.
How Corruption Manifests in the Movement
In the pro-life cause, this spiritual corruption can be seen in actions that betray the very principles the movement claims to uphold. Consider how laws are enacted without regard for the complexities of women’s lives, ignoring the cries of those in desperate situations. When compassion and accompaniment are replaced with legalism and judgment, the evil spirit’s influence becomes clear.
This is not to say that the fight for the unborn is wrong—it is noble. But when the effort to protect life results in policies that disregard the needs of the vulnerable mothers who carry those lives, it becomes a shadow of the ideal. The evil spirit is at work here, twisting a good intention into an instrument of harm, just as Ignatius warns.
The Way Forward
How do we resist this subtle corruption? Ignatius would direct us back to Christ himself. Jesus, who cherished the dignity of all life, never enforced his teachings with cruelty or coercion. His way was one of mercy and accompaniment. He dined with sinners, healed the outcast, and showed unwavering compassion even to those who opposed him.
For the pro-life movement—and for all of us in any moral struggle—the call is to imitate Christ’s love, which is never coercive but always invitational. Discernment requires us to ask: Is this action truly of God? Does it reflect the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? And to be clear, this must not be merely in our minds but in the real world by our actions and in others. If it does not, we must be willing to reevaluate, no matter how noble the cause.
Recognizing the Evil Spirit in Our Midst
The evil spirit thrives in division, pride, and fear. It whispers that compromise is weakness and that love is insufficient. But Christ shows us that true power lies in humility, and true victory is won through love, not domination. For those of us trained in Ignatian spirituality, the call is to remain vigilant, discerning not only the good from the bad but also the good from the counterfeit.
The pro-life movement, like any human endeavor, is susceptible to the cunning of the evil spirit. Its noblest ideals can be corrupted when we lose sight of Christ’s example. We must remain anchored in prayer and discernment, striving always to express God’s love—not our own righteousness. For in the end, it is only by walking humbly with God that we can do what we were born to do: God’s will.