Posted on 02/04/2005 11:19:06 AM PST by DBeers
Priest wants help with 'strange happenings'
Every Catholic diocese across the island of Ireland should have a specialist who can assess possible supernatural occurrences such as "poltergeists, hauntings and demonic infestations", according to a priest who is an expert on spiritual issues.
Father Pat Collins made the call in the current issue of the religious periodical, The Furrow.
He also said that a special conference to discuss these issues is needed which would bring together theologians, psychologists, parapsychologists and experienced exorcists which would aim to "explore this aspect of ministry".
Fr Collins, who has written books on spirituality, said he regularly receives calls from people around the country reporting "strange happenings" in their homes.
"They range from footsteps, sounds of crying, smells, objects moving, to electrical appliances going on and off."
He wrote that his usual practice is to refer such people to their local priest for help, but that they would "recount how the priests they had spoken to had either dismissed their stories in a sceptical manner, said Mass or prayers in the house without any discernible effect, admitted that they were not competent to help, or referred them to someone like myself."
Fr Collins said that as a result of this lack of response from most priests, many Catholics are instead turning to "New Age practitioners, spiritualists, psychics and other non-Christian helpers".
He wrote that the Catholic Church needs to find a more systematic way of responding to queries about possible supernatural phenomena and to this end each diocese should appoint a specialist or expert in the area.
"Those who want to deal effectively (with reported supernatural occurrences) need to be au fait with psychology, the paranormal, the notion of the restless dead, and the possibility of infestation by evil.
"Like good doctors, they diagnose what the nature of the problem is, and then try to come up with an appropriate remedy.
"Not all priests would be expected to know about such things, any more than all doctors would be expected to know all about rare diseases.
"Good doctors refer difficult medical cases to specialists.
"Surely priests should be able to refer difficult cases, to do with such things as poltergeists, hauntings, and demonic infestation, to diocesan specialists. Otherwise those who are afflicted may have recourse to New Age practitioners, spiritualists, psychics and other non-Christian helpers," he said.
Fr Collins called for a conference designed to pool knowledge of the area. And he said that many Christians have given up belief in the supernatural because of the influence of secular ways of thinking.
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I'll bet. When certain kinds of people find out that Collins believes in poltergeists,hauntings, and boogeymen, they'll fill his voice mailbox with paranoia.
The need for exorcists is rare, and the good ones operate under the radar. Collins must be writing a book.
It's not as rare as you think. It is the responsibility of the bishops to heal those who are being hurt by demonic activity, and most aren't really helping in that regard.
No, it's not.
Rome can easily take a big step to solve the problem by bringing back the minor order of exorcist in the seminaries. Offer the course separately for those already priests.
This can be done immediately with a minimum of fanfare. The traditional seminaries still offer the course of study.
I can personally attest that this is not that rare. I'm with an LCMS church and a group of us here are in the process of going through deliverance training. (Deliverance is the word we use for "exorcism" I guess.) It's all 100% scripturally sound.
Full-blown demonic possession is quite rare.
However, demonic oppression is quite common. Many of the everyday vices and psychological issues with which many of us are afflicted are caused by demonic oppression. An exorcist may be of use here, also.
Here's a read of Fr. Amorth's take on the New Rite of Exorcism. The New Rite of Exorcism is Ineffective Against the Evil One .
He doesn't think much of it.
Did you ever read "Hostage to the Devil"? It's not for those with very sensitive natures. Very scary.
That is one scary book.
I didn't sleep well for weeks after reading it. I still get spooked sometimes thinking about...(feeling for my scapular now)
A scary and very good book indeed, as it explains the work of intelligent evil in the world in real cases.
The words of our (alleged) internet deacon are typical of clerics trained in our seminaries: they do not believe in intelligent evil......the Devil.....his powers.....his legions of demons & their skill and expertise in tempting the souls of man......and their desire to ensnare souls to their damnnation. Such a lack of insight and proper training does great harm to the souls of the faithful who need spiritual help - NOT an agnostic Psychiatrist!
There is indeed aneed for an exorcist in every single diocese. To evaluate potential cases, and make recommendations to the local ordinary. Sending folks in dire need of spiritual help to an unbelieving doctor is akin to what Christ said about "giving your son a rock when he asks for bread".
The need to exorcists is great - very great indeed. I will make the statement that those who disagree with this are sadly mistaken....either through ignorance of the problem (due to lack of contact with the general public), or because they do not believe in the reality of evil.
It certainly does. My spiritual director spoke with a man who has been suffering a bad obsession. Every time he asks a N.O. priest for help he is told "it is a psychological problem." He finally found a diocesan priest willing to help him out of state.
It's beyond sad. I think the U.S. has less than 10 exorcists at last count. Italy has around 300 who are kept busy.
The optimistic explanation is the bishop doesn't believe in the devil. The logical explanation is worse.
I think the U.S. has less than 10 exorcists at last count.
I believe we have many more than that.
Where and what makes you believe that? I think it was Fr. Amorth who stated otherwise. AmChurch believes in psychology, not Satan. I know of a couple diocesan exorcists in the Wisconsin/Minnesota area. I would guess the FSSP has some which may operate in affiliated dioceses with the bishop's permission. California has none. This man has sought help all over the US. So far this is the only diocesan lead he has.
Within the last couple of weeks, there was a thread on Rome's putting together some kind of education for priests to help them contend with occultism and Satanism. I wonder whether exorcism is part of it.
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