Saturday, December 29, 2007 | Reason : In the News | print version

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Pope's exorcist squads will wage war on Satan

by Nich Pisa, Daily Mail

Reposted from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=504969&in_page_id=1811

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The Pope has ordered his bishops to set up exorcism squads to tackle the rise of Satanism.

Vatican chiefs are concerned at what they see as an increased interest in the occult.

They have introduced courses for priests to combat what they call the most extreme form of "Godlessness."

Each bishop is to be told to have in his diocese a number of priests trained to fight demonic possession.

The initiative was revealed by 82-year-old Father Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican "exorcistinchief," to the online Catholic news service Petrus.

"Thanks be to God, we have a Pope who has decided to fight the Devil head-on," he said.

"Too many bishops are not taking this seriously and are not delegating their priests in the fight against the Devil. You have to hunt high and low for a properly trained exorcist.

"Thankfully, Benedict XVI believes in the existence and danger of evil - going back to the time he was in charge of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith." The CDF is the oldest Vatican department and was headed by Benedict from 1982, when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, until he became Pope in 2005.

Father Amorth said that during his time at the department Benedict had not lost the chance to warn humanity of the risk from the Devil.

He said the Pope wants to restore a prayer seen as protection against evil that was traditionally recited at the end of Catholic Masses. The prayer, to St Michael the Archangel, was dropped in the 1960s by Pope John XXIII.

"The prayer is useful not only for priests but also for lay people in helping to fight demons," he said.

Father Paolo Scarafoni, who lectures on the Vatican's exorcism course, said interest in Satanism and the occult has grown as people lost faith with the church.

He added: "People suffer and think that turning to the Devil can help solve their problems. We are being bombarded by requests for exorcisms."

The Vatican is particularly concerned that young people are being exposed to the influence of Satanic sects through rock music and the Internet.

In theory, under the Catholic Church's Canon Law 1172, all priests can perform exorcisms. But in reality only a select few are assigned the task.

Under the law, practitioners must have "piety, knowledge, prudence, and integrity of life."

The rite of exorcism involves a series of gestures and prayers to invoke the power of God and stop the "demon" influencing its victim.

Posted: Saturday, December 29, 2007 | Permalink

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1. Comment #104593 by logical on December 29, 2007 at 1:14 am

That was the logic of the witchburners.
History repeating itself - or can we stop them this time?

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2. Comment #104595 by Quine on December 29, 2007 at 1:21 am

The man has gone over the edge.

[Edit: Looks like they keep adding a couple of inches to the hat each year; maybe the weight has compressed his brain.]

Other Comments by Quine

3. Comment #104596 by Fanusi Khiyal on December 29, 2007 at 1:23 am

*laughs* I like it! We need more headlines like this!

...Oh come on, it's at least amusing.

Other Comments by Fanusi Khiyal

4. Comment #104598 by nogodsever on December 29, 2007 at 1:35 am

Look at Ratzinger. Look at that picture of him above. He wears that ridiculous, ludicrous hat in all seriousness. He, my friends, is one of the world's biggest douchebags.

Other Comments by nogodsever

5. Comment #104599 by AllanW on December 29, 2007 at 1:37 am

Oh man, I love this. It's an entirely logical response to the effects of the modern enlightenment IF you have a medieval mindset.

It's the corollary of the Asimov observation; 'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic'. In this case; 'Any sufficiently complex society is indistinguishable from demonic possession.'

Anyone else need any more evidence for how backward this Pope is? How dissonant must his mental state be?

Other Comments by AllanW

6. Comment #104600 by Logicel on December 29, 2007 at 1:43 am

The only difference I can see between a deluded paranoid who believes she/he is being followed by a non-existent entity and the Pope is that the latter wears funny clothes and a ridiculous hat.

Humans have enough of real problems on their hands, and this leader of a prominent and powerful organization wants us to waste our time fretting about his fantasies of devils and loss of faith in superstitions? Get a real job, Ratty.

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7. Comment #104601 by phil rimmer on December 29, 2007 at 1:51 am

It's the corollary of the Asimov observation; 'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic'.

Thought it was Arthur C. Clarke? [edit] it was

Arthur C. Clarke, "Profiles of The Future", 1961 (Clarke's third law)

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8. Comment #104602 by NJS on December 29, 2007 at 1:51 am

When will a psychiatrist have the courage to stand up and do an "emperor's new clothes" on these mentally ill people?

Having said that the more "idiotic" stories the better in my view.

Also the response should be a simple question: "How many people have died at the hands of Satanists?"

Other Comments by NJS

9. Comment #104603 by Verylee on December 29, 2007 at 1:51 am

Knee jerk reaction to the sudden revival (popularity) of atheism. They are "grasping at strawmen".

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10. Comment #104604 by AdrianB on December 29, 2007 at 1:53 am

He does have an uncanny resemblance to The Emperor in the Star Wars films in that photograph.

If he looks evil, and he speaks evil ....

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11. Comment #104607 by alexmzk on December 29, 2007 at 1:59 am

actually, a quick google for "pope + exorcisms" turned up this unnerving article: http://www.catholicherald.com/cns/exorcism.htm
i take it there's going to be yet more abuse of mentally ill people by the Vatican from now on?

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12. Comment #104608 by AllanW on December 29, 2007 at 2:00 am

phil rimmer; you're right, of course :)

It was Clarke not Asimov.

Nevertheless I've not seen a more clear case of blinkered dogma being dissonant from reality for a very long time. I'm happy that this is the case (that it's so clear). This Pope will do more for the cause of atheism or unbelief than any one individual on our side.

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13. Comment #104609 by phil rimmer on December 29, 2007 at 2:01 am

It is actually this very thinking that leads to the wickedness the Pope fears.

If the Pope were to say satanism is complete nonsense, much so-called satanic behaviour would cease.

It is also analogous to our current political leaders using the threat of terrorism to scare us into being a more obedient flock.

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14. Comment #104610 by AshtonBlack on December 29, 2007 at 2:02 am

He does have an uncanny resemblance to The Emperor in the Star Wars films in that photograph.

If he looks evil, and he speaks evil ....

fear is the path to the dark side. fear leads to anger. anger leads to hate. hate leads to suffering. ~ yoda.

Edit: I think I'm going nuts (or possibly possesed) 'cos I don't remember editing the above comment. The original was: "Hum the Imperial March" when looking at the photo..... Well it made me chuckle!

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15. Comment #104611 by phil rimmer on December 29, 2007 at 2:04 am

Nevertheless I've not seen a more clear case of blinkered dogma being dissonant from reality for a very long time.

Actually, I share your glee. Its bonkers. Its bloody marvelous.

Other Comments by phil rimmer

16. Comment #104614 by BAEOZ on December 29, 2007 at 2:16 am

So this is what RD didn't address when he avoided sophisticated theological arguments then?
When RD ignored the existence of Satan and the need to perform exorcisms on people falsely labeled insane, he showed his ignorance. Thank Zeus we have such a pope.....

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17. Comment #104616 by Geoff on December 29, 2007 at 2:28 am

Anyone else got Mike Oldfield's music running through their heads now...?

I still find it difficult to decide at first sight whether these type of article are from the Onion, without checking the source; they really are beyond parodying.

Other Comments by Geoff

18. Comment #104617 by eno on December 29, 2007 at 2:35 am

What schmucks. Instead of fighting the real threat of fundamentalist Christianity and Islam they've decided to fight Satanism?

This isn't even news.

Other Comments by eno

19. Comment #104619 by Quetzalcoatl on December 29, 2007 at 2:36 am

I'm sure that I speak for everyone when I say that I'm relieved that the Catholic Church is taking such care to be at the forefront in tackling issues affecting the world today. Praise the Lord!

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20. Comment #104621 by BicycleRepairMan on December 29, 2007 at 2:39 am

Seriously, what the F..?

This is daylight robbery of reason.

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21. Comment #104622 by Vaal on December 29, 2007 at 2:45 am

They don't learn do they? So Darth Ratzinger considers himself an intellectual, yet believes in the occult? Now they are going to persecute the mentally ill in the name of religion? Didn't they learn anything after the nun who was killed during an exorcism?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4107524.stm

I am not sure whether this is good news, as it makes them look absolutely ludicrous, and makes our job a lot easier, or to despair at the return of medieval religious stupidity.

Reminds me of the Salem Witch hunts. Perhaps he should read Arthur Millers "The Crucible". What a cretin!

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22. Comment #104623 by Incredulous on December 29, 2007 at 2:46 am

Father Paolo Scarafoni, who lectures on the Vatican's exorcism course, said interest in Satanism and the occult has grown as people lost faith with the church.

I hope this guy has evidence for this rather strange belief. I guess this kind of non sequitir is prevalent amongst those who assume that if it is not god then it must be his dissenting creation Lucifer.

I'm not even sure I understand what he means by interest in satanism. Does trying to get a balanced view of a subject, in order to be intellectually honest, mean ignoring ideas which do not assume your probably wrong assumption.

When will a psychiatrist have the courage to stand up and do an "emperor's new clothes" on these mentally ill people?

It would be very interesting for me to hear someone from the medical profession give some kind of analysis on people who perpetuate this nonsense.

Is this pope for real?

Other Comments by Incredulous

23. Comment #104624 by Paula Kirby on December 29, 2007 at 2:46 am

To judge from that photo, they won't have to look far to find their first candidate for exorcism ...

Other Comments by Paula Kirby

24. Comment #104625 by aw6334 on December 29, 2007 at 2:58 am

Bonkers. This man is totally bonkers.

The only explanation I can think of is that he has been watching too many horror films over the Christmas period.

But never mind. The more mad pronouncements he makes, the better for us!

Other Comments by aw6334

25. Comment #104626 by Duff on December 29, 2007 at 3:08 am

This is going to be the best pope ever!! Demented Medieval Pope, directly out of central casting. The last one was a nice guy, but this crank wanker is just perfect! I hope he lives for many many years. Think of the damage The Rat can do.

Other Comments by Duff

26. Comment #104627 by Diacanu on December 29, 2007 at 3:11 am

Man, they really are pathetically desperate.

They're pretty much admitting that the fictional rescue of the fictional girl from "The Excorcist", was the only heroicly awsome thing catholicism was ever involved in, and now they're pathetically trying to grasp onto that PR in the collective subconscious.

Sick shit.

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27. Comment #104628 by scottishgeologist on December 29, 2007 at 3:11 am

Its not just the RCs either. A lot of evangies (esp the charismaniac types) are right into thius "demon posession" BS as well. They HAVE to be. Its in their holy book whcih CANNOT be wrong.

I know of a couple of evangie fundies who, when they fell on hard times and had various illnesses and stuff, reckoned that "they were under attack" from evil forces. I kid you not.

And I rememeber reading not so long ago about how a preacher was bemoaning the fact that we dont pay enough attention to the "middle order" - angels, demons and all that stuff. (Middle presumably between heavenly state and earthly state)

This sort of woo-woo nonsense is only useful for one thing: providing lyrics for heavy metal music a la Dio, Blackmore, Iron Maiden et al!

(Mind you - these guys are probably demon-posessed according to the religites...)

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28. Comment #104630 by scottishgeologist on December 29, 2007 at 3:16 am

Ah, f*ck it.

Heres a good pic:

http://www.prisonplanet.com/images/january2005/220105dio.jpg

Go on Ratty, deal with that!

(Good album as well....)

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29. Comment #104631 by automath on December 29, 2007 at 3:17 am

lol, combating the most extreme form of 'godlessness'. It doesn't take much imagination to see what that Jesus fellow had against organised religion with their man-made 'laws'.

You know that this is really a move to combat the Penacostals with their magic men, hence the really reason the Roman Catholics are advertising magic men of their own. I wonder when the people will wake up to this insanity.

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30. Comment #104632 by PaulJ on December 29, 2007 at 3:20 am

In theory, under the Catholic Church's Canon Law 1172, all priests can perform exorcisms. But in reality only a select few are assigned the task.

Under the law, practitioners must have "piety, knowledge, prudence, and integrity of life."

Plus, of course, "bell, book and candle."

Is anyone taking this man seriously? Unfortunately I suspect the answer is yes.

I'd be interested in what the (atheist in all but title) Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, thinks about the pope's latest initiative.

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31. Comment #104633 by automath on December 29, 2007 at 3:23 am

BAEOZ - So this is what RD didn't address when he avoided sophisticated theological arguments then?

Ah that might be, I'm still waiting for a reply to my many requests for the sophisticated stuff. I was starting to wonder if it had something to do with exploding underwear.

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32. Comment #104634 by automath on December 29, 2007 at 3:24 am

Paula Kirby - To judge from that photo, they won't have to look far to find their first candidate for exorcism ...

You're just the best...

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33. Comment #104635 by ianmac66 on December 29, 2007 at 3:25 am

from worshipping an invisible being to fighting an invisible being. what next?

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34. Comment #104637 by Diacanu on December 29, 2007 at 3:27 am

Fucking invisible boys?

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35. Comment #104638 by scottishgeologist on December 29, 2007 at 3:38 am

Hah! Good thread this one - havent laughed so much since the heady days of the Wee Flea.

Here's an obituary to a recently departed whack job who was also very much into this "Satan" stuff but from a position 180 degrees from old Ratty

Pastor Jack Glass - obituary:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/27/db2702.xml

Heres a little excerpt if you cant be arsed reading the whole thing:

When he was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, he regarded the tumour as a "personal attack" by Satan, who was trying to steal his voice "to destroy Christ's message". When doctors gave him the all clear around the turn of this year, he proclaimed his recovery an "amazing miracle". The Devil had suffered a tremendous defeat. "I've lived to see the Devil run away. I'm like Lazarus, who rose from the grave."

But a few weeks later it emerged that the cancer had spread to his brain.

Jack Glass, like Ratty was of huge benefit to the cause of rationalism because of his wing-nuttery. Sadly missed!

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36. Comment #104639 by Steve Zara on December 29, 2007 at 3:41 am

I hope this guy has evidence for this rather strange belief.

I don't think it is a strange to believe that as people lose interest in organised religions they may transfer their need to believe in the supernatural to other areas. We see this in a milder form in the widespread interest in astrology, homeopathy and other 'magic-based' systems.

Where the Pope is wrong, and where I think he is out to cause trouble is by labelling Satanism and a belief in the occult "an extreme form of Godlessness". It is nothing of the sort. It is just worshiping a different God or Gods. But I believe he may be implying with this distortion that atheism is a "less extreme" form of Godlessness.

The rather unpleasant hidden message here may be "watch out if people you know say they are agnostic or atheist - it can be one step on the road to worshiping the Devil".

And, it is easy to see how some could go from that to believing that atheism itself is the result of evil spiritual influence, and a quick exorcism will do the trick. This kind of fits with his recent proclamation about past atheist evil-doers.

Am I being paranoid? Not with this Pope, I don't think so.

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37. Comment #104640 by automath on December 29, 2007 at 3:50 am

Excellent points Steve.

Of course this is how theists would be expected to see anyone that was without their god, as their god is the only god.

This form of Religion is divisive in the extreme.

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38. Comment #104641 by RascoHeldall on December 29, 2007 at 3:53 am

Oh my God - this guy ACTUALLY believes all that crap.

Is there some sort of compilation of Ratzi's insane pronouncements somewhere? Could someone make one? It would be nice to have, for when the next "sophisticated theologian" starts pretending theists don't take Biblical nonsense literally. Just a thought.

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39. Comment #104643 by Steve Zara on December 29, 2007 at 4:04 am

Of course this is how theists would be expected to see anyone that was without their god, as their god is the only god.

I am not sure he really sees it like that. I think it may be a planned strategy to fight back against the growth of atheism, especially in Europe.

See, I can do conspiracy theory if I really try!

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40. Comment #104644 by MouthAlmighty on December 29, 2007 at 4:07 am

The Holy See has issued a denial...

http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=55627

...which will probably get much less coverage than the original story.

It's hard to ignore the evidence though - competition will always drive policy. As automath notes, this move reflects the rise in competition from the Pentecostal movement in the same way that the 'rethink' on 'limbo' for dead pre-baptismal children reflected the growing interest in Islam in areas beset by high infant mortality.

The Catholic church's ability to recruit people to the priesthood is in crisis and it's haemorrhaging adherents by the day. We'll likely see an increase in opportunities for lay preachers and/or a relaxation of the chastity vows in the not too distant future.

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41. Comment #104645 by Paula Kirby on December 29, 2007 at 4:08 am

Is there some sort of compilation of Ratzi's insane pronouncements somewhere? Could someone make one? It would be nice to have, for when the next "sophisticated theologian" starts pretending theists don't take Biblical nonsense literally. Just a thought.

Actually, it's a very good thought, Rasco. Like the books of Bush-isms. It would be an absolutely gem. We'd need to extend it well beyond the Ratz though - since the evangelicals wouldn't take any notice of him anyway. A compendium of religious madness from around the world. Seriously - it could be a great weapon to have in our armoury: something that would make people laugh and gasp, and go a long way to dispelling the myth that these people are worth listening to.

The only problem is, it would need a good editor: otherwise it would be the size of the Bible, the Complete Works of Shakespeare and War and Peace, all rolled into one.

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42. Comment #104646 by Diacanu on December 29, 2007 at 4:09 am

The exorcists should have proton packs, and ghost traps and drive around in modified hearses.

And if they find themselves without some ghosts to bust, they should pick up trash, and sweep, and help cats out of trees.

Anyone got the pope's e-mail addy?
I'm busting with ideas.

Other Comments by Diacanu

43. Comment #104647 by Paula Kirby on December 29, 2007 at 4:13 am

Hmm, who knows, MouthAlmighty? One Vatican official says one thing, another says another. The fact that the Vatican has an official exorcist at all says a lot about it, whether this latest report proves to be true or not.

I was interested to read the first comment posted on the denial report:

We need many more exorcists in the world, but sadly many bishops no longer believe in the devil and thus are helping him. The U.S. alone apparently has over 8,000 Satanic covens. Father Amorth's books are excellent and make clear that demonic possession is very real and widespread today. He apparently uses the Old Rite of Exorcism because he says the New Rite does not work.

That last sentence is just wonderful.

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44. Comment #104648 by ianmac66 on December 29, 2007 at 4:17 am

the pope's email address has to be SILLYACTIONS@ROME.COM

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45. Comment #104650 by Incredulous on December 29, 2007 at 4:22 am

See, I can do conspiracy theory if I really try!

Some paranoia is healthy. I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but I think what you say has some foundation given that theist seem only to have propoganda left to fight its inevitable demise as delusion of choice.

I take your point about transference of belief from religion to new age stuff, I guess I just don't see it as inevitable and like my propaganda to be backed with some kind of quantifiable evidence.

I'm still chuckling at the thought of us being pursued by the 82 year-old exorcistinchief and his fully trained ghostbusters.

This article has to be some kind of joke!

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46. Comment #104651 by Paula Kirby on December 29, 2007 at 4:29 am

Anyone got the pope's e-mail addy?
I'm busting with ideas.

It's benedictxvi@vatican.va

Do let us know what you write :-)

Other Comments by Paula Kirby

47. Comment #104652 by faouloki on December 29, 2007 at 4:35 am

scottishgeologist "When he was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, he regarded the tumour as a "personal attack" by Satan, who was trying to steal his voice "to destroy Christ's message". When doctors gave him the all clear around the turn of this year, he proclaimed his recovery an "amazing miracle". The Devil had suffered a tremendous defeat. "I've lived to see the Devil run away. I'm like Lazarus, who rose from the grave."

But a few weeks later it emerged that the cancer had spread to his brain."

One of the best punchlines i've heard in a long time, thanks for that!

Other Comments by faouloki

48. Comment #104655 by icanus on December 29, 2007 at 4:40 am

It's easy to poke fun at the latest round of papal lunacy, but I'm very concerned that this will lead to lots more poor sods with mental illnesses being deprived of proper treatment in favour of ritual nonsense which is at best ineffective, and at worst mentally and physically scarring.

I really can't think of a situation where telling a schizophrenic that there really is a malicious intelligence controlling their thoughts and actions is not so misguided and harmful as to be criminal.

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49. Comment #104656 by scottishgeologist on December 29, 2007 at 4:44 am

Paula:

He apparently uses the Old Rite of Exorcism because he says the New Rite does not work.

Yes, thats a cracker. Immediately brings to mind that WONDERFUL film, "The Devils" with Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave. The scene where the witchfinder (or whatever hes called) is beating the f*ck out of Reed, screaming "Confess! Confess!!"

I presume that what is portrayed in that scene is the "Old Rite"....

SG

PS As for Oliver Reed, well, his quotes are something else:

"You meet a better class of people in pubs."

"My only regret is that I didn't drink every pub dry and sleep with every woman on the planet."

"I'm not a villain, I've never hurt anyone. I'm just a tawdry character who explodes now and again."

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50. Comment #104663 by automath on December 29, 2007 at 5:14 am

bah, does anyone else loss comments posted to this board because they are logged out?

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