Spain: From Conquistadors to Culture of Death |
Foreign Policy > Spain
Spain: From Conquistadors to Culture of Death
The nation that ended mass sacrifices in the Americas now legalizes the annual termination of tens of thousands of pregnancies.
Alex Ashe | March 11, 2026
Five centuries ago, Spain stood as a beacon of light in a darkened world, confronting empires built on the blood of innocents. Today, that same nation has descended into a modern form of barbarism, endorsing the ritualistic slaughter of the unborn under the guise of "rights." By examining Spain's heroic role in ending human sacrifice in the New World and contrasting it with its current embrace of abortion, we uncover a profound spiritual shift -- from Christian valor to demonic influences that prioritize death over life.
The Spanish Conquest: Liberating the New World from Human Sacrifice
In the early 16th century, Spanish explorers and conquistadors arrived in the Americas, encountering civilizations steeped in ritual violence. The Aztec Empire, centered in what is now Mexico, was a powerhouse of terror, where human sacrifice was not an aberration but the cornerstone of their religion. Aztec priests, believing their gods demanded blood to sustain the universe, conducted mass killings on an unimaginable scale. At the inauguration of the Great Temple in Tenochtitlan in 1487, estimates suggest over 80,000 victims were sacrificed over four days, their hearts ripped out while still beating to appease deities like Huitzilopochtli. The empire's subjects, including allied tribes, lived in fear, often kidnapped for these gruesome rituals.
Enter Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who, in 1519, led a coalition that toppled this empire of death. Far from a mere quest for gold, Cortés's expedition was framed as a divine mission to spread Christianity and eradicate pagan atrocities. He allied with indigenous groups oppressed by Aztec tyranny who eagerly joined the fight against their overlords. By 1521, Tenochtitlan fell, and with it, the institutionalized human sacrifice that had claimed countless lives. The Spanish imposed Christianity, converting millions and building churches atop ruined temples, symbolizing the triumph of life-affirming faith over bloodthirsty idolatry. Franciscan friars demanded an end to these practices under threat of death, ensuring the old ways were buried.
Similarly, in South America, Francisco Pizarro's forces confronted the Inca Empire in the 1530s. While the Incas' sacrifices were less prolific than the Aztecs', they still offered humans -- often children -- to gods like Inti and Pachamama during crises such as droughts or conquests. The Spanish conquest dismantled this system, introducing the Gospel and halting these rituals. As one historical account notes, the Europeans "helped end human sacrifice" while spreading Christianity, marking a pivotal expansion of western civilization. Spain's actions, though imperfect, saved untold lives and brought the light of Christ to millions, transforming societies from death cults to communities rooted in human dignity.
This era exemplifies Spain's historical commitment to life: confronting evil head-on, not for domination alone, but to uphold the sanctity of every human soul created in God's image.
Abortion as Spain's New Human Sacrifice
Fast forward to today, and Spain has tragically inverted its legacy. What was once a force against human sacrifice now promotes it through abortion. In Aztec and Inca times, victims were offered to appease false gods; now, the unborn are sacrificed on the altar of convenience, autonomy, and secular ideology. This is no hyperbole -- abortion ends innocent lives in a sterile, systematized manner, echoing the ancient horrors but sanitized for modern sensibilities.
Spain's slide into this culture of death accelerated with progressive reforms. The 2023 amendments to its abortion law not only expanded access but mandated the creation of registries for healthcare professionals who conscientiously object to participating in abortions. In a chilling development, on March 10, 2026, the High Court of Justice of Madrid ordered the regional government to "immediately" begin compiling such a registry, overriding resistance from Madrid president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who decried it as "blacklisting" doctors and vowed never to force them against their conscience. Health Minister Mónica García hailed this as a "legal victory for abortion rights," but from a pro-life standpoint, it's a victory for persecution -- creating lists of those who refuse to partake in what we see as infanticide.
This registry isn't just bureaucratic; it's a tool to intimidate and marginalize pro-life advocates in medicine, much like how ancient empires coerced participation in sacrifices. By compiling names of objectors, the state effectively brands them as obstacles to "progress," potentially exposing them to harassment or professional repercussions. It's a stark reminder that when societies abandon God, they revert to valuing power over people.
Spain's Spiritual Regression
This betrayal signals a deeper spiritual malaise: Spain's drift toward demonic worship disguised as secular humanism. Once a bastion of Catholicism that evangelized the world, Spain now champions policies that profane life. Abortion, with its ritualistic elements -- clinical procedures ending in the disposal of human remains -- mirrors the demonic pacts of old, where blood was spilled to satisfy unseen forces. Today, those forces are the idols of individualism, feminism, and state control, all antithetical to Christian teachings on the sanctity of life from conception.
The irony is profound: The nation that ended mass sacrifices in the Americas now legalizes the annual termination of tens of thousands of pregnancies, framing it as empowerment. This isn't progress; it's regression to paganism, where the vulnerable are expendable. As pro-life advocates, we must reclaim Spain's true heritage -- calling out this demonic inversion and fighting for laws that protect the unborn, just as the conquistadors protected the innocent from the knife.
In conclusion, Spain's history teaches us that confronting human sacrifice requires courage and faith. Let us pray and act to restore that spirit, ending the modern abomination of abortion and returning to a culture that honors every life as sacred. The souls of the unborn cry out for justice -- will Spain listen, or continue down this path of darkness?
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