Archdiocese appoints exorcists Jennifer Green , Canwest News Service
Published: Saturday, April 05, 2008
OTTAWA - Ottawa's Catholic archbishop has appointed at least two new exorcists, one for the English and one for the French community, replacing the region's last exorcist who retired five years ago.
The archdiocese will not name the priests, or say exactly how many there are for fear of a flood of phone calls.
Msgr. Kevin Beach says all the men are experienced clergy with overseas experience, some in areas of the world where belief in demons is more robust than North America. He said it wasn't easy to find men with the right qualifications, nor was it easy to persuade them to take the duties.
"I think they had to give prayerful consideration. If they are looking for the job, that's not the person you want."
The archdiocese doesn't receive any more than seven or eight calls a year about exorcism.
But exorcism has always been part of the Catholic ministry, even if it has fallen by the wayside.
Under Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessor John Paul II, talk of Satan and his minions has made a comeback.
In the past two decades, Italy alone has increased the ranks of its exorcists from 20 to 350. Just before Christmas, Rome's chief exorcist, Gabriel Amorth, indicated the Pope wanted an exorcist in every diocese in the world.
The Vatican press office later toned down Amorth's statement, saying the Pope had no intention of "ordering local bishops to bring in garrisons of exorcists."
But Benedict XVI clearly supports their work, and an Ash Wednesday homily from Vatican City reminded the faithful Satan still stalks our world, whatever modern rationalism may say. Exorcists describe the ideal candidate as a priest's priest, who prays and celebrates mass daily.
He believes in demons but almost never believes they have someone in their clutches, at least not at first. He is not someone who sees himself as a hero, battling Satan single-handedly.
"There are those in our society, even within the church, who have a kind of lust for this topic," an American specialist told a 2007 seminar on exorcism.
Since the illustrious bishops had to consult with the psychiatrists before judging the immorality of child abuse and homosexuality, I think it would be only fair if before allowing the 'new exorcists' lose that they consult with the psychics !!!
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