[johniegrad]

Exorcist is a special, rarer role with extensive specialized training. I don't think all dioceses have an official exorcist, but Pope Francis is encouraging the expansion of the Order of Exorcists. I believe an exorcist is always a priest.

The exorcist of any Diocese is always the Bishop. The bishop has the option of delegating that role to a mandated exorcist who is a priest. The distinction is important because authority matters in the preternatural realm. Authority flows from Christ to the Pope to the Bishop to the Exorcist. Any variation in that order is outside the authority of the Catholic Church and subject to demonic exploitation in the case of the possessed.

Some denominations practice deliverance by charism rather than by office and this is biblically justified. However, most often that occurs in cases of affliction rather than true possession. They will sometimes refer to that as exorcism but almost always it is deliverance.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thanks for that. I need to ask around about whether Knoxville is going to get a delegated exorcist. I suspect he wouldn’t be left with nothing to do.