Why Satan Hates Our Kids

ACL editor and former Compassion CEO Paul O’Rourke paints a grim and sobering picture of the crisis affecting Australia’s children in a provocative new book, Why Satan Hates Our Kids.

Endorsed by ACL, church leaders and child advocates including Darlene Zschech, who wrote the foreword, the journalist and long-time child advocate lifts the lid on the spiritual and physical attacks on our children, and exhorts the Church to wake up, stand up and act in the best interests of children.

“Australian children are not doing so well . . . record numbers of abortions, children in out-of-home care and reports of abuse and neglect reflect the crisis affecting children of the ‘lucky country’,’’ he said.

“Recent high profile stories on abused children, including a father dropping his terrified four-year-old daughter from the top of Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge, and a seven-year-old girl starving to death in a seaside town north of Newcastle are shocking, but not uncommon in 21st century Australia.

“In March this year, police broke the world’s largest internet paedophile ring, arresting hundreds of people, including Australians, and rescuing the child victims of this sickening trade.

“And yet child abuse rated 13th in Australian Childhood Foundation surveys of Australians, behind petrol prices, interest rates and road tolls.’’

Paul outlines the theology of children, details the ways children are under attack, and lists the major political parties’ policies on children and family, together with specific action individuals and churches can take in defending the voiceless.

“It’s time for the Church to recognise the scale of the disaster affecting our children and take action, individually and corporately,’’ Paul said.

“Abortion, poverty, abuse and neglect, the sexualisation of society and family breakdown have a disastrous impact on children, many of whom rate family conflict as their greatest concern, and the cause of their growing self-hatred and depression.

“We are increasingly hypocritical and contradictory in our attitudes to children. We marvel at life-saving surgery performed on babies in the womb, and our ability to save premature babies, but also demand the right to abort children any time from conception to full term.

“We have reduced children to a commodity that can be discarded or made-to-order for artificial family constructs where children will be raised without access to their biological parents.’’

Why Satan Hates Our Kids is available through ACL for $26 (GST and postage inclusive) per copy. Each sale supports the work of ACL. To purchase your copy please contact the ACL National Office on (02) 6259 0431.

About the author
Paul O’Rourke was CEO of child development and child advocacy ministry Compassion Australia for nine years until June 2010 when he left to pursue advocacy for Australian children, including writingWhy Satan Hates Our Kids, and project managing ACL’s Best Interests of the Child campaign.

Paul also edits ACL’s public policy magazine Viewpoint.

While at Compassion, Paul completed a Master’s Degree in Holistic Child Development developed by Compassion and taught through Malaysian Baptist Theological Seminary. He also completed theological studies through his home church, C3 Church Victory, School of Ministry.

Before Compassion, Paul spent 17 years in print journalism as a reporter, editor and managing editor, including as editor-in-chief of the Newcastle Herald.

He is married to Janine, his best friend and wife of 29 years. They have three adult children and three grandchildren.

Paul is on the governing board of C3 Victory in Newcastle and writes and speaks widely on children’s issues.

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Testimonials

“This book awakens us to the reality of what Australian children are facing. I trust that we will not just read, but rise and respond to the needs, for the sake of our cities and nation.”

--Pastor Letitia Shelton, Co-ordinator, Toowomba City Women.

“This powerful book explains clearly how we, as a community, can do our utmost to raise and protect our children, society’s most vulnerable. This book should be placed on the top of everyone’s must-read list.”

-Rose Medwin, Children's Pastor, Abundant Life Church, Tasmania.

“Most are quite willing to debate these issues in private, but when it comes to the public domain, they place these issues in to too hard basket for fear of reprisal and opposition. Paul goes where even angels fear to tread, and shouts a wake up call to churches in Australia, and a call to action to all people of faith.”

-Dr Robi Sonderegger, Director, Family Challenge Australia.

“Paul O’Rourke provides in this book the fundamental requirement to be informed, so don’t walk by as we have so often done on so many issues, because this time it is our children at risk He confronts us not only with well researched fact on the urgency and scale of the problem and its consequences, but Christ’s clear imperative for us to protect these ‘little ones’ for whom He has a special place. Paul also outlines what the church needs to do in response, something he is well qualified to know. So if you don’t want to be compelled to action by the sheer force of his argument – don’t read this book”

-Jim Wallace AM, Managing Director, Australian Christian Lobby.

“I am excited to be part of this journey with Paul and this book, and strongly commend it to you. We need to recognise the enormous challenges facing our children and accept the responsibility that is ours to defend them against those who would seek to destroy them.”

-Debra Byrne, singer, author and actor.

“Our children are our future and this book reminds us of the great needs in our own nation of Australia. While world poverty is an important social justice issue we also need to be reminded of the challenges facing our very own Children here in the lucky country of Australia.”

-Katrina Hobbs, Board chair, Emily's Voice.

“Church leaders should read this book and be at the forefront of addressing this issue and must take a stand for our young. If not now then when?”

-Toby Hall, CEO, Mission Australia.

“Reading this book you will be challenged and inspired about the impact we can all have on our children and their future.”

-Ross Buttenshaw, National Director, Christians Against Poverty.

"Today's children are being neglected, abused, tortured and killed in a world that has lost its heart. In Matthew 25 the 'least of these' doesn't mean the 'least important of these', just the least able to fight or speak for themselves, least able to thank you or reward you for protection and kindness. My good friend Paul O'Rourke takes you into the heat of an invisible battle that rages between the hosts of heaven and hell over each precious child. This is an important book, a must read for everyone who knows a child ... or ever was one!"

- Dr Wess Stafford, President and CEO, Compassion International.

"You would think in 'the lucky country', it would be hard to find anyone who would ever mistreat a child. Paul's book is the startling reveal that this is not so. Behind the facade of our beautiful cities are the sounds of children weeping. Though a difficult read, we should not ignore or push to the side these shocking statistics. This book is one of the most important texts you or I will read and will surely keep you awake as it has I. My prayer is that we will make a difference, and see our nation indeed become, Australia fair.' "

-Pastor Chris Pringle, Senior Minister, C3 Church Sydney.