I got this AP report from Rex Wockner:
Citing a shortage of priests who can perform the rite, the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops are holding a conference on how to conduct exorcisms.
The two-day training, which ends today in Baltimore, is to outline the scriptural basis of evil, instruct clergy on evaluating whether a person is truly possessed, and review the prayers and rituals that comprise an exorcism. Among the speakers will be Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, Texas, and a priest-assistant to New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan.
“Learning the liturgical rite is not difficult,” DiNardo said before the conference, which is open to clergy only. “The problem is the discernment that the exorcist needs before he would ever attempt the rite.”
Signs of demonic possession accepted by the church include violent reaction to holy water or anything holy, speaking in a language the possessed person doesn’t know and abnormal displays of strength.
The full exorcism is held in private and includes sprinkling holy water, reciting Psalms, reading aloud from the Gospel, laying on of hands and reciting the Lord’s Prayer. Some adaptations are allowed for different circumstances. The exorcist can invoke the Holy Spirit then blow in the face of the possessed person, trace the sign of the cross on the person’s forehead and command the devil to leave.
Hmm, just like that — PRESTO — the church reentered Medieval times. How, exactly, is this church still relevant on moral issues? And, do we really need more Catholic priests blowing people…in the face.
If you ask me, I’d say the Catholic Church is in need of a serious exorcism.
just like any other religious rite that tries to actively invoke or interact with the spiritual realm, i find exorcisms somewhat fascinating.
if the vatican weren’t harboring an international pedophilia ring, declaring gays and ordained women as the greatest enemies of Christendom and carrying a history of antisemitism so vile it allowed millions of otherwise “good” men and women to remain permissibly silent as others were exterminated like vermin, i wouldn’t take as much notice.
but since they ARE all of those things, it makes it more difficult for me to look upon this as just another rite that attempts to interact with the spiritual realm.
“What an excellent day for an exorcism.”
“You’d like that?”
“Intensely.”
The demon (voice of Mercedes McCambridge speaking through Linda Blair) and Father Karras (Jason Miller), THGE EXORCIST
“Wouldn’t that drive you out of Regan?”
“It would bring us together.”
“You and Regan?”
“You and US.”
They forgot the most important possession sign of all: spewing pea soup!
In all seriousness, this superstitious nonsense should have been left behind centuries ago. There’s no place for this kind of ignorance in the 21st century.
Unfortunately, most of the world, including the USA, seems to be living in antiquity. Mentally, anyway.
Yes, it seems like people are choosing ignorance and superstition. As a result, the United States is suffering and is slowly becoming a Third World nation before our eyes. If the slide does not quite reach this level, it will still result in a diminished role internationally. Although, I suspect way after we are no longer a superpower, we will still be a legend in our own minds.
At some point real soon, the U.S. will only be number one at proclaiming we are number one. This rapid downfall can only be blamed on the rise of fundamentalism, which brought the national IQ down to dangerous levels and lowered our ability to compete in the world.
*facepalm*
Jesus tap-dancing Christ.
I command that spirit of fabulousness, sardonic humor, and tasteful clothing to come out of thee, Brother Wayne!