Posted on 08/28/2006 2:05:21 PM PDT by churchillbuff
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.
Think "Faust." Reminding me,btw, of Roert Duval's film "Stalin." A character who was being purged threw the accusation into "Stalin"s" (Duval's( face. What was interesting was Duval's reaction. It was the face of a person "caught out."
( . . . not half so much as possession would bother somebody . . . )
I think it is true, but that doesn't mean they are not to blame for what they did. They still have free will.
Why is that dude always wearing a "Members Only" jacket? He needs to hire a stylist!
No, that's a misunderstanding of demonic action. For one thing, a demon can persistently torment, tempt and attempt to persuade absolutely anybody, including the most virtuous (even Jesus Christ was tempted in this way)--- but cannot actually possess anybody without their consent.
The consent could be fleeting --- you could be drunk, or just fooling around --- which is one reason it's not a good idea to "fool around" with satanism.
Moreover, you can commit a crime while possessed and still be personally responsible and personally guilty. Only God can know for sure how much of the action was coerced and to what extent the person's action involved full knowledge and understanding, and full consent. Yet, even if Hitler and Stalin were literally hearing demonic voices telling them to carry out a program of murder, we still have to presume that they were personally responsible for their actions.
At this point, the magic is a kind of fantasy-access to powers of good or evil, like the magic practiced by Arwen and Galadriel in Lord of the Rings. And Harry (like all of Rowling's positively-presented characters) is portrayed as struggling against evil, and using his strengths to protect the innocent. The good powers don't involve accessing rebellious spirits, but merely using a kind of alternative technology.
Now in the 7th volume, if he really does go over to the Dark Side, I may have to change my evaluation. But I don't think that's going to happen.
I thought this was a serious article up to the point where Harry Potter was branded Satanic. Bwahahaha.
Unless I misunderstand you: You attribute Hitler and Stalin's evil careers to God, but you don't attribute their defeat to God?
Certainly, Dostoevsky discerned the demonic among Russian intellectuals of the late 1800s in his book, "The Demons." ____________________________________________________________________
Fr. Amorth is right regarding the HP books. The problem with this genre of literature is that it can enkindle in children an interest in the occult.
I was at a restaurant last week and heard one 10-year-old complain to his mother, "Tell Robby to stop casting spells on me!" To his brother: "You don't even do it right!" Interpret it as you will, but this conversation would not have happened when I was a kid back in the '70s.
The devil cannot overtake the will, but in cases of "perfect possession," where a person willfully gives himself over to the devil, the devil is in almost complete control. Nevertheless, redemption always remains a possibility.
The best book that I've read on possession is Malachi Martin's "Hostage to the Devil." I highly recommend it, although it is truly terrifying.
Excellent recommendation; excellent book. I read it last winter. The scenarios still haunt me to this day. The five individuals who were possessed resemble people we meet or read about every day. The possessed college professor especially struck a chord with me.
The book should be required reading for all who believe that evil exists, and even for those who do not.
It could have happened when I was a kid back in the 50's... under the influence of "Bewitched."
Harry Potter certainly has more substantive content than "Bewitched" did. However, while open to argument, I remain unconvinced that HP represents a dangerous opening to the occult for most kids. On the other hand, if a kid is already psychologically disturbed, I'd keep him away from Grimm tales, ghost stories, and the (to me, delightful) Wizard of Oz.
WONDERFUL POSTING!!!!
We are all screaming laughing here!!!!!!!!
"Malachi Martin's "Hostage to the Devil." I highly recommend it, although it is truly terrifying."
More terrifying that the fictional accounts.
The devil's got you right where he wants you, doesn't he?
So, you, as a "conservative believing" Catholic know better than the chief exorcist of the Church?
Ummm, okay.
Well, in this case he's assessing literature, and thus not acting in his official capacity as exorcist. As a native English speaker, a teacher of my own children, and a longtime reader of children's/fantasy writing, I may understand Harry Potter better than he does.
As I said, I'm open to argument "by evidence." In this case, argument "by authority" does not apply.
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