The Vatican's top exorcist sends the devil packing

Sun-Sentinal/Los Angeles Times ^ | 4/30/2004 | Tracy Wilkinson

[B Knotts]

ROME -- In a small room, well away from the street so that no one hears the screams, Father Gabriele Amorth does battle with Satan. He is a busy man.

As the Vatican's top exorcist, Amorth performs the mysterious, ancient ritual dozens of times a week. A confused world engulfed in tragedy and chaos is turning increasingly to black magic, the occult and fortune-telling, he said, proof that the devil and his handmaidens are having a field day.

[B Knotts]

Best line in the article is this:

"I've never been afraid of the devil," Amorth said. "In fact, I can say he is often scared of me."

[B Knotts]

An interesting interview with Fr. Amorth from 2000, where he reacts rather negatively to the new (1999) rite of exorcism:

Fr. Gabriel Amorth on the Reform of the Rite of Exorcism

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Ping

[Desdemona]

Bump

[AnAmericanMother]

I believe it. Voudoun or Santeria is nothing to mess with lightly. Those "gods" are demons and they are very dangerous - particularly the ones that are tied into or linked with saints of the Church. (I have a friend who lives in Haiti.)

[Polycarp IV]

(I have a friend who lives in Haiti.)

I've been on three mission trips to Haiti, and fell asleep many nights to the sounds of voodoo drums in the distance. I agree with your comments.

[AnAmericanMother]

You be careful there now, y'hear?

Our friend is a native Haitian. He told us not to come visit him - "too dangerous." He is the guy whose hotel the rebels took over . . . I saved the pics of guys with rifles standing right where I used to lounge by the pool . . . he said he'd let us know when it was safe . . .

[Polycarp IV]

I have not been back for quite some time. My saintly wife told me that as long as our kids are still young, charity must begin at home.

Two of the docs I travelled with have returned from other trips with malaria, and one with bone break fever.

A friend who visited Haiti in the service several decades ago brought home a carving, a small statue of some sort.

His middle son developed some bizarre spiritual and emotional problems not long after. A priest assisting him asked if he owned any such items, and told him to get rid of it. He did, and with the priest's assistance the child's problems quickly resolved.

Apparently, voodoo practitioners ofter place "spells" on the goods sold to tourists.

[AnAmericanMother]

That dengue fever is very nasty stuff. I don't believe you ever really get rid of it. Charity DOES begin at home, it don't help the kids to be bringing home exotic tropical diseases . . . . :-D

When we last visited Haiti I had to get vaccinated for all kinds of stuff not found in developing countries . . . I'm probably one of the last people in the U.S. to get a smallpox vaccine for that reason . . . not to mention cholera, yellow fever, and a whole bunch of other stuff (including malaria prophylaxis, which isn't very good for you but better than the malaria.)

[monkfan]

"I've never been afraid of the devil," Amorth said. "In fact, I can say he is often scared of me."

That's the voice of faith, right there. No fear.

Put that demon in a headlock and knuckle-rub 'em between the horns.

[kaehurowing]

This other interview is fascinating, especially the part where Fr. Amorth says:

"30 Days: Father Amorth, Satanism is spreading more and more widely. The New Ritual, in practice, prevents the carrying out of exorcisms. Exorcists are prevented from taking part in an audience with the Pope in Saint Peter's. Tell me frankly: what is going on?

Fr. Amorth: The smoke of Satan has entered everywhere. Everywhere! Perhaps we were excluded from the audience with the Pope because they were afraid that such a large number of exorcists might succeed in chasing out the legions of demons that have installed themselves in the Vatican.

30 Days: You are joking, aren't you?

Fr. Amorth: It may seem like a joke, but I do not believe it is. I have no doubt about the fact that the demon tempts the authorities of the Church especially, just as he tempts every authority, those of politics and industry.

30 Days: Are you saying then that here as well, as in all wars, Satan wishes to conquer the enemy's stronghold in order to take the enemy generals prisoner?

Fr. Amorth: It is a winning strategy. It is one that is always applied. Especially when the adversary's defenses are weak. Satan is also attempting it. . . . "

I don't know if he is describing the Catholic church, but he is describing the Episcopal Church U.S.A. to a tee.

[anniegetyourgun]

Jeremiah 7:18 "The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods in order to spite Me."

Those who have bought Satan's lies still dabble in their own forms of "spiritualism." Not much has changed through the millenia....

[Desdemona]

Not much has changed through the millenia....

NOTHING has changed. Not a thing, no matter what the "enlightened" modernists have to say. Time, for God, doesn't really exist. God and His Kingdon just are.

[Conservative til I die]

My only issue with this post is that the Pope himself has performed exorcisms. Thought it does appear Fr. Amorth is talking more about the Vatican beureaucracy than the Holy Father himself.

[Desdemona]

Acording to a number of things I've read regarding not just Fr. Amorth, but other exorcists. It isn't this pope, nor has it been any of the others before JPII. There's something going on in the hierarchy - but not as a majority. If there was a majority of the non-tradition type dissenters, we wouldn't have had some of the popes of the last 100 years.