Archbishop of Sydney

The Devil

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
15/6/2008

Although the devil is a regular feature in horror films, many Christians are not sure he exists.

Whatever their sillier elements, these films all agree that the devil is a personal spirit of evil, not a mere symbol of it. When we say we believe (or do not believe) in the devil, we are talking about something different to the question of human evil.

Some individuals are spectacularly evil. Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot usually head the list. But evil cannot be completely explained by social conditioning, ignorance or ill-will. It is not something that goes away just because we think there is no such thing as evil.

Popular imagery is not always helpful. The traditional black demon with a tail and pitchfork seems more like a mischievous child than an agent of great evil. As often happens, the real story is considerably more interesting.

The Catholic Church teaches that the devil or Satan is a fallen angel. Like the other angels he was created as a spirit with intelligence and freedom, and used these gifts to make an irrevocable choice against God and for the supremacy of his own will over the divine plan.

Christian tradition also teaches that the devil is preternatural rather than supernatural. He is beyond human nature, but not a force above and beyond the laws of nature. He is not all-powerful, cannot predict the future, and has no capacity for love or compassion. He can only hate and works to make us share his hatred, especially for God, humanity, the people around us, and ourselves.

Belief in the devil is not confined to religious conservatives. Fr Bernard Haring was a famous Catholic moral theologian, quite liberal, and a public opponent of Pope John Paul II. But he had also served on the Eastern Front in World War Two, where millions of soldiers and civilians on both sides were slaughtered. Haring’s experience of this war convinced him of the existence of the devil, of the spirit of evil.

Another level of mystery is found in claims that people are possessed by evil spirits. Such examples are rare in our society, and I have always been sceptical about such claims; but I do not deny their possibility.

Psychological problems often provide much of the explanation in most of these cases, but occasionally the facts cannot be explained by any known cause.

The devil is also a tempter. Modern advertising has trivialised the idea of temptation, but everyone who has been confronted with the temptation to do something seriously wrong knows its power.

Jesus himself was tempted, first with things of the flesh, then with the promises of the world, and finally with the pride which undid Satan. Jesus was able to see the devil off in no uncertain terms. We can too, although it is harder for us.