Posted on 08/29/2006 12:14:51 PM PDT by Al Simmons
Hitler and Stalin were possessed by the Devil, says Vatican exorcist
By NICK PISA Last updated at 17:32pm on 28th August 2006
Adolf Hitler and Russian leader Stalin were possessed by the Devil, the Vatican's chief exorcist has claimed.
Father Gabriele Amorth who is Pope Benedict XVI's 'caster out of demons' made his comments during an interview with Vatican Radio.
Father Amorth said: "Of course the Devil exists and he can not only possess a single person but also groups and entire populations.
"I am convinced that the Nazis were all possessed. All you have to do is think about what Hitler - and Stalin did. Almost certainly they were possessed by the Devil.
"You can tell by their behaviour and their actions, from the horrors they committed and the atrocities that were committed on their orders. That's why we need to defend society from demons."
According to secret Vatican documents recently released wartime pontiff Pope Pius XII attempted a "long distance" exorcism of Hitler which failed to have any effect.
Father Amorth said: "It's very rare that praying and attempting to carry out an exorcism from distance works.
"Of course you can pray for someone from a distance but in this case it would not have any effect.
"One of the key requirements for an exorcism is to be present in front of the possessed person and that person also has to be consenting and willing.
"Therefore trying to carry out an exorcism on someone who is not present, or consenting and willing would prove very difficult.
"However I have no doubt that Hitler was possessed and so it does not surprise me that Pope Pius XII tried a long distance exorcism."
In the past Father Amorth has also spoken out against the Harry Potter books, claiming that reading the novels of the teen wizard open children's minds to dabbling with the occult and black magic.
Father Amorth, who is president of the International Association of Exorcists, said of the JK Rowling books:"Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of the darkness, the devil."
He said that Rowling's books contain innumerable positive references to magic, "the satanic art" and added the books attempt to make a false distinction between black and white magic, when in fact, the distinction "does not exist, because magic is always a turn to the devil."
Father Amorth is said to have carried out more than 30,000 exorcisms in his career and his favourite film is, according to Italian newspapers The Exorcist.
What possessed Chamberlain?
Couldn't they just be bad people? Or are we blaming everything bad on the Devil and giving credit for all that is good to God?
I hope the mods leave it where it is.
Alas, sometimes one needs superior military firepower to effectively terminate the Devil's goon squads.
I think we now know what's responsible for liberal Democrats.
He needs to exorcise alamnutjob and hillary next.
Bingo... and bingo.
I have only this against the Catholic Church: why is it that an organization that cannot seem to root out pederasts from it's own midst seems so good at attacking the straw man that is Harry Potter?
It seems to me to be an attempt at taking the culpability for sin away from the person and placing it on the devil.
So, let's see. The Devil possessed Hitler and Hitler possessed Joe Kennedy. The Devil possessed Stalin and Stalin possessed Lillian Hellman and her band of flying monkeys. It's all coming together.
Nope, it has been exorcised from news and cast out into chat.
Could be, but that's not the point.
If one presumes that "possession" is in fact possible, Fr Amorth suggestion of possession doesn't somehow shift the guilt off Hitler or Stalin...that's not how possession works. The Devil or a demon can't just possess a person...the person being possessed must consent. In fact, it is a contractual relationship and there is a quid pro quo.
Certain of Hitler's contemporaries thought he had tapped too deeply into the occult and that he seemed to become another person entirely at certain times (during the delivery of speeches for example). I don't know about Stalin, but of the biographies I have read of Hitler, he certainly seems to be the type that would cut a deal with the Devil if the opportunity arose.
I have only this against the Catholic Church: why is it that an organization that cannot seem to root out pederasts from it's own midst seems so good at attacking the straw man that is Harry Potter?
I agree 100%! I was very impressed with the article until the Potter bashing. Geez Louise, the Catholics should clean up their own house before chasing windmills...
See comment #14.
lol...didn't take long!
I'm curious where you draw your explanation from. Is this something you can point to in Scripture? I really don't think it can be supported. If we're going to talk about spiritual matters, hadn't we better stick to the authority on spiritual matters (the Bible)?
On the other hand, the scriptures speak plainly if sparsely on the subject. Tell me which point specifically you are interested in and I will try to find scriptural references.
Please, in advance, let me acknowledge and thank the Catholic branch of my faith for keeping the flame of Christianity alive throughout the Dark Ages, for keeping the written word alive (if somewhat sequestered), and for providing the needed ritual that some of His Children need to make their worship meaningful to them. All great things. Now, when can I expect the Pedophile Priests to get tossed out of the church and their records turned over to the police?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.