Exorcism is making a comeback — and big news — worldwide
Jamie SeidelNews Corp Australia Network
EXORCISM. It’s back. From the courtrooms of South Africa to the cornfields of heartland America, the battle for your soul has taken a decidely physical turn.
THEY’RE BACK
Even the most eminent do not appear immune to the Devil’s advocates.
US Republican Presidential candidate Ted Cruz — himself a loudly professed Southern Baptist — was confronted earlier this year in New Hampshire by two protesters armed with a wooden cross and a mirror.
Their objective: To free him of a power-hungry evil spirit. The outcome? The self-proclaimed exorcists stated only time would tell.
The medieval-flavoured rite one seemed to have gone the way of trial-by-fire and pre-purchased forgiveness of yet-to-be-committed sins.
Exorcism appeared well and truly dead-and-buried after a public scandal in 1973 when a young German woman, Anneliese Michel, was killed after repeated rituals.
But a turnaround of sorts began in 2004. An official decree from Pope John Paul II instructed every Catholic diocese to appoint an exorcist.
Who would dare disobey?
DEMON HAUNTED WORLD
It’s not just ‘a Catholic thing’. Pentecostal churches have long been enthusiastically adding their high-profile branding to the ceremony. And virtually every flavour of religion — be it ancient Assyrian or Hindu — mentions some form of rite to expel oppositional spirits in its holy texts.
But the Catholic International Association of Exorcist’s upped the ante in 2014: Their annual meeting declared occult activity was on the rise. (For the uninitiated, this includes believing in the power of crystals, t’ai chi and yoga — as well as the more traditional Ouija boards, palm-reading and tarot cards.)
Its head, Italian priest Gabriele Amorth, is something of an ace: He claims to have personally cast out 160,000 demons.
Despite this metaphysical massacre, he needs help. To that end the Regina Apostolorum pontifical institution of the Legionaries of Christ is about to conduct its annual one-week course on exorcism in Rome.
“We have a very secularised society in which, more than in the past, there’s the tendency to open the doors to occultism and esotericism,” said Father Pedro Barrajon, director of the Istituto Sacerdos.
The course is intended to train participants in recognising at-risk members of congregations.
“Demonic influence is favoured by magical practices and the use of fortune tellers, which can have a real influence leading even to possession,” Barrajon said.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
The Catholic News Agency in the United States recently published an article describing how to recognise the demon-possessed.
Interviewing one Father Cipriano de Meo, whose exorcist credentials dating from 1952, it concedes most cases are, in fact, mental illness. Not possession.
The Catholic Catechism is specific in its application:
“Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church,” it reads. “ Illness, especially psychological illness, is a very different matter; treating this is the concern of medical science. Therefore, before an exorcism is performed, it is important to ascertain that one is dealing with the presence of the Evil One, and not an illness.”
The only way to tell the difference, Father de Meo says, is through a personal revelation to the priest — and the reaction of the patient to prayer.
“A possessed person has various general attitudes towards an exorcist, who is seen by the Adversary as an enemy ready to fight him,” he is quoted as saying.
“There’s no lack of frightening facial expressions, threatening words or gestures and other things,” he said, “but especially blasphemies against God and Our Lady.”
DARK AGE GONE MAINSTREAM
The current head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, may promote progressive ideas such as climate change, income equality and — under limited circumstances — contraception. But he’s also a big fan of exorcism.
Religion historian David Frankfurter argues devils and demons tend to be thrust into the limelight whenever a community is confronted by fresh outside forces.
In the modern world, it’s an unavoidable condition. Sexual liberation. Equal opportunities. Migration. Open markets.
The winds of change blow fiercely. But are they demon-sourced?
Old fashioned spirits are a way of making sense of something new and complex,says Demonology, Posession and exorcism lecturer at Texas State University Joseph Laycock.
In the hands of a priest, exorcism gives them supernatural relevance in a relentless — and confounding — real world.
THE SWORD OF THE WORD
Despite all this, experts say public interest in possession appears tightly tied to what’s on television. Little wonder, then, that there’s a remake of The Exorcist in the offing.
But is exorcism actually on the rise?
Michael Cuneo, sociologist and author of newly published “American Exorcism,” asserts “Exorcism is more readily available today in the United States than perhaps ever before.”
He goes on to say: “By conservative estimates, there are at least five or six hundred evangelical exorcism ministries in operation (in the US) today, and quite possibly two or three times this many.”
Australia? It’s not telling.
Unlike their overseas counterparts, Australian Catholic diocese have been backwards about coming forward with the exploits of their proactive priests.
But they’re certainly there.
The Catholic Church in Australia recently admitted to having up to 30 exorcists on the march against evil.
And their guide book, The Manual of Minor Exorcisms, was written by the Archbishop of Hobart, Julian Porteous.
@JamieSeideledly physical turn.
Possessed presidential candidates. Demon-haunted miscreants. Snake-spirit infested parishioners.
Exorcism just keeps appearing in the headlines.
I was surprised to find the truth about exorcism and that many different religions participate in it. However I was not surprised when the article mentioned that the Church tends to confuse mental illness with a demonic presence.
ReplyDeleteThe article was interesting. I really didn't understand what the real reasons for exorcisms was, since my only knowledge is from exorcist movies.
ReplyDeleteThe article was interesting. I really didn't understand what the real reasons for exorcisms was, since my only knowledge is from exorcist movies.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this article, I had no idea that so many religions participated in exorcisms. I thought it was just a Catholic thing, probably because it is portrayed that way in movies.
ReplyDeleteI found this article very interesting because I did not know much about exorcism. I was surprised when I was reading the part about religions participating in exorcisms.
ReplyDeletePretty scary knowing how many people are in need to be free from demons and evil spirits.
ReplyDeleteAlexann Brown
ReplyDeleteI was never a fan of exorcisms, so this article really creeped me out
This article reminds me of those scary movies. I don't think exorcisms are completely real, but there are some strange things in this world
ReplyDeleteWow, exorcisms are no joke. They're definitely scary and not something to be reckoned with
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ReplyDeleteI can't believe so much attention is being placed on exorcisms. They don't seem real to me. I think the mind is powerful enough to play tricks on people , which is most likely what is occurring.
ReplyDeleteThis article is pretty scary. I'm not a really big fan of exorcisms.
ReplyDeleteI'm very shocked at this article.
ReplyDeleteI believe and many aspect of religion and as crazy has it sounds, I actually believe in them. I believe it's a part of the mysticism of Christianity/religion.
ReplyDeleteI found this article a bit interesting due to the fact their are some supernatural events that occur in the world without explanation. Exorcisms have been around for ages not surprised
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to believe that people still believe in exorcisms, and it's even harder to believe that there's people out there that believe they have supernatural powers capable of freeing a soul from the devil.
ReplyDeleteThe thoughts of exorcism freak me out and the fact that it is coming back, freaks me out even more.
ReplyDeleteThis article was really informative about how exorcism is taken less seriously now than back in ancient times.
ReplyDeleteThis article was really informative about how exorcism is taken less seriously now than back in ancient times.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe in a person being possessed. I do however, believe in negative energy and entities.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe in the paranormal, I believe more in chemical imbalances and the scientific explanations to it, nevertheless there are always doubts, and therefore i respect it. It also was nice to learn how many different religions take part in these exorcisms that in american culture are mostly stereotyped as catholic happenings.
ReplyDeleteKnowing that something I've always thought to be a thing of the past is being used now and are becoming more common like so many years ago.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting how some religions take exorcism seriously. In my opinion, I do not really believe in it and mainly because it scares me that it could be possible so I chose to not believe it at all.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting how some religions take exorcism seriously. In my opinion, I do not really believe in it and mainly because it scares me that it could be possible so I chose to not believe it at all.
ReplyDeleteI found it quite intriguing when Ted Cruz was approach by protesters to "purify" him from his demons. Exorcism is an interesting subject and definitely has influence over religious rituals and practices.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know much about exorcism before reading this article so it surprised me to see how exorcism is part of many religions.
ReplyDeleteHISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
ReplyDeleteI have heard a lot of crazy stories about Exorcism. It is interesting to finally know more about what it all means.
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