Exclusive: Discovery, Catholic Church team for exorcism series (Ecumenical)

Entertainment Weekly ^ | 01/05/2011 | James Hibberd

[Pyro7480]

Discovery Channel is teaming with the Vatican for an unprecedented new series hunting the deadliest catch of all: Demons.

The Exorcist Files will recreate stories of real-life hauntings and demonic possession, based on cases investigated by the Catholic Church. The project includes access into the Vatican’s case files, as well as interviews with the organization’s top exorcists — religious experts who are rarely seen on television.

“The Vatican is an extraordinarily hard place to get access to, but we explained we’re not going to try to tell people what to think,” says Discovery president and GM Clark Bunting.

Bunting says the investigators believe a demon can inhabit an inanimate object (like a home) or a person. The network executive says he was initially skeptical when first meeting the team but was won over after more than three hours of talks.

“The work these folks do, and their conviction in their beliefs, make for fascinating stories,” Bunting says....

[Pyro7480]

We'll have to see how this goes. They did an hour-long documentary a few years back about the real-life exorcism which the novel and movie "The Exorcist" were based on, and I thought they did a good job.

[Pyro7480]

Catholic ping!

[surroundedbyblue]

Mixed feelings about this. First, they’re tackling a very dangerous topic. Second, I worry about this being used to mock the Church.

On the other hand, I think some people forget that evil is very real & does indeed exist. Maybe this will remind them.

[Savage Beast]

They need to send the team to Washington. Stat!

[marshmallow]

There seems to be an obsession with all things demonic in the skeptical world of the media and also with much of the otherwise agnostic, religiously apathetic population.

Mention a papal pilgrimage or the life of a modern saint and it's .........blaaah.............whatever.....

Mention something about the occult or exorcisms and it's......."wow........what time's it on??!!"

Discovery knows this and thinks it's on to a winner.

I'm not sure what the Vatican is thinking. Perhaps they think this will help to convince people of the existence of evil as an objective reality but they need to be careful. Exorcism is not meant to be entertainment and real exorcists are self-effacing, retiring people who do not court publicity

[Jen Shroder]

Thank God someone is tackling this because when you’re confronted with a demon and you ask your church for help, sometimes they just stare at you with a blank expression.

I’m curious to know how the RCC handle demons. All it took for me was the Lord and prayer with a born again believer. But until that prayer happened, it was dangerous stuff.

I’m still really bummed that my prayers alone didn’t do it. I take comfort in “Wherever two or more are gathered...” but it humbled me that my prayers alone weren’t enough.

Glad the RCC is opening up about this.

[Triple]

I wonder if they will tackle the muhammad possession?

[Juana la Loca]

I won’t be watching. Demons and Satanic possession scare me to death. I read an article about exorcisms in Crisis magazine several years ago that made my hair stand on end. Terrifying subject matter.

[surroundedbyblue]

My thoughts exactly.

[kidd]

I’m not happy about this.

The Catholic church has, up until this, kept exorcism and demonic posession very low key. It has thus avoided making a serious issue into a sensational issue.

[Peter from Rutland]

I saw that, it was great.

I’m no fan of the Catholic church but when it comes to this, I am. I have no doubts this stuff is real and they are the only ones prepared to fight it.

[ArrogantBustard]

You echo my attitude toward lawyers ...

;'}

[GOP Poet]

interesting . . .

[al_c]

Sounds interesting. I usually laugh when Discovery or History try to tell the world about anything Christian, but this doesn’t seem to be one of their usual stories. This one could be really good.

[NYer]

Excellent observations. Your comments reflect my own thoughts.

[ruralvoter]

The timing of this series is interesting. According to the article, they plan to broadcast the episodes this spring, when the movie Suing The Devil opens in theatres.

[Jen Shroder]

ruralvoter wrote: “The timing of this series is interesting. According to the article, they plan to broadcast the episodes this spring, when the movie Suing The Devil opens in theatres.”

__________________

It could be motivated by that but don’t you think with all that is pointing at the end times, and the release of demons from under the earth or sea as told in Revelation, that maybe somebody ought to discuss the subject in a real way before we get inundated?

[fatima]

I think it will be good.Vatican has final say on what to cut.

[Pyro7480]

The prayers and activities of exorcism which Catholic priests use can be read here, starting on page 6 (the first 5 pages are an introduction and guidelines for the priests/bishops performing the exorcism:

Rite of Exorcism, pre-1999 (still an option today)

[ruralvoter]

My point was to look at the timing from the frame of reference of the Discovery Channel. Your point about bringing forth a discussion is valid and if this is done from the cinema or cable television simultaneously, perhaps that would be a good thing.