Exorcism

 BASIC R.C.BELIEF

See also John Paul II's Attempted Exorcism

The driving out of the devil in cases of possession according to a special rite of the Church. The priest must have the express consent of his Bishop to perform an exorcism. Lesser exorcisms, which do not imply possession, are performed in the exorcism of salt and water in the making of the Holy Water.

SECULAR JOURNALS

From USA TODAY, 3/6/90. "Outspoken Cardinal John O'Connor of New York surprised theologians when he said Sunday there have been two exorcisms in the New York archdiocese in recent months.

"`We hope, as far as we know, they have been successful,' he said in his sermon at St. Patrick's Cathedral. He gave no details of the exorcisms.

"`If you asked most bishops in the country "Who is your exorcist?" they probably wouldn't have one. It's an ad hoc thing,' said Rev. James Burtchell, theology professor at Notre Dame University. `Probably a number of bishops would be surprised to hear there were two in New York.'"

From THE CHEIFTAN, Pueblo, CO 3/6/90. "Theologians surprised by cardinal's exorcism disclosure.

"But other ceremonies dealing with evil spirits, including a baptismal prayer, are more common in the Roman Catholic Church...

"According to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle, Pope John Paul II recently increased the number of exorcists in Rome and in Turin, where there are a reported 40,000 devil worshipers.

"Last week, police in Indianapolis asked an unidentified priest to pray and sprinkle holy water in a house after they saw a radio, a vase and other objects inexplicably move.

"But channeling - the phenomenon popularized by actress Shirley McLaine of speaking through spirits - has similarities to demonic possession. The spirits that emerge in channeling, however, are supposed to be good, not evil, according to the Rev. James Burtchaell, theology professor at Notre Dame."

Nothing was said about exorcism in the New Catholic Catechism except brief mention of Jesus' having cast out demons and the "minor exorcism" that takes place at Baptist, when the priest breathes on the infant and compels evil spirits to leave. It is interesting them to see this quote taken from The Orlando Sentinel, Wednesday, January 27, 1999 page A-9

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican issued new guidelines Tuesday for driving out devils, urging exorcists not to mistake psychiatric illness for diabolic possession - but also stressing the power of evil.

The new exorcism rite, in Latin and contained in a red, leather 84-page book, also reflects Pope John Paul II's efforts to convince the skeptics that the devil is very much in the world.

The existence of the devil isn't an opinion, something to take or leave as you wish," said Cardinal Medina Estevez, a Vatican official who presented the revisions. "Anyone who says he doesn't exist wouldn't have the fullness of the Catholic faith."

John Paul has denounced the devil in a series of recent homilies as a "cosmic liar and murderer."

In today's world, the cardinal said, the devil's force comes through widespread acceptance of "lies and deceit ... the idolatry of money ... the idolatry of sex."

The new guidelines are the first revision to the exorcism rite since 1614. They did not drastically change the words or the gestures used by exorcists, but they provide optional texts for priests to use.

The novelty appears largely in the cautions offered to exorcists to take psychiatric medicine into account.

Exorcists must "not think possessed by a demon someone who is suffering from some illness, above all psychic," or who is "the victim of one's own imagination," the guidelines advise.

Among the widely accepted signs of possession by the devil are speaking in unknown tongues and demonstrating physical force beyond one's natural capacity.

The rite itself remains essentially the same. It involves making the sign of the cross, laying on hands, sprinkling holy water and ordering the devil to leave the possessed person.

John Paul himself performed an exorcism during his papacy, according to the memoirs of Cardinal Jacques Martin, the former prefect of the pontifical household.

Quoting the late cardinal's book, My Six Popes, the Italian news agency ANSA said John Paul carried out the rite in 1982, driving out the devil from a woman who was brought to him writhing on the ground.