Submitted by ProofOfPlasticity t3_11dl9rl in nottheonion

The Vatican is to hold a training course for priests in exorcism next month amid claims that demands for deliverance from demonic possession have greatly increased across the the world.

The Vatican-backed International Association of Exorcists, which represents more than 200 Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox priests, said the increase represented a “pastoral emergency”.

According to a priest from Sicily, the number of people in Italy claiming to be possessed had tripled to 500,000 a year, and an Irish priest has said demand for exorcisms has “risen exponentially”.

Last year, the Christian thinktank Theos reported that exorcisms were a “booming industry” in the UK, particularly among Pentecostal churches.

But some warn that “deliverance ministry” can be a form of spiritual abuse. Critics also say LGBT people and those with mental health issues are targeted for deliverance in the belief that their sexuality or psychiatric problems are the result of demonic possession.

The Vatican training course, which will be held at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome between 16-21 April, will focus on exorcism and the prayer of liberation, a prayer commonly used for deliverance from possession.

“The fight against the evil one started at the origin of the world, and is destined to last until the end of the world,” Fr Cesare Truqui, one of the speakers, told Vatican News.

“But today we are at a stage crucial in history: many Christians no longer believe in [the devil’s] existence, few exorcists are appointed and there are no more young priests willing to learn the doctrine and practice of liberation of souls.”

Fr Benigno Palilla, an exorcist from Sicily who reported a tripling of demonic possession cases on the island, acknowledged the issue was controversial, but added: “The demoniacs … suffer a lot.”

Training in deliverance was essential, he told Vatican Radio. “A self-taught exorcist certainly makes errors. I will say more: it would also take a period of apprenticeship, as happens for many professionals.”

In Ireland, Fr Pat Collins said he had been inundated, almost daily, with people seeking help to deal with what they believed to be demonic possession and other evil, and called for more training in exorcism.

“It’s only in recent years that the demand has risen exponentially,” he told the Irish Catholic. “What I’m finding out desperately, is people who in their own minds believe – rightly or wrongly – that they’re afflicted by an evil spirit. “I think in many cases they wrongly think it, but when they turn to the church, the church doesn’t know what to do with them.”

Pope Francis has said if a priest becomes aware of “genuine spiritual disturbances … he must not hesitate to refer the issue to those who, in the diocese, are charged with this delicate and necessary ministry, namely, exorcists”.

The Church of England offers guidelines on deliverance which say that for some people “going through times of suffering and anxiety, or when distressed by what seem to be continuing experiences of evil within or around them … it may be right to ask for God’s saving help through the church’s deliverance ministry”.

The guidelines, which were updated in 2012, say caution must be exercised and “the ministry of exorcism and deliverance may only be exercised by a priest authorised by the diocesan bishop”.

Such priests should be trained in deliverance and should not minister alone. They should be covered by adequate insurance, the document says.

“Language, body language and touch should be courteous and considerate … No one should receive ministry against their will.”

The guidelines say doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists should be consulted where appropriate, and that deliverance should be followed up with continuing pastoral care and “should be done with a minimum of publicity”. According to Anne Richards, the C of E’s national adviser on such issues: “Exorcism in a technical sense is incredibly rare. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a case that’s been authorised.”

Each of the C of E’s 42 dioceses has at least one person experienced and trained in deliverance, she said.

The church was “extremely concerned” that deliverance and healing should be undertaken in collaboration with professionals, such as doctors, and in the context of good safeguarding practice, she said.

But, she added, “I accept in some cases people get together and do something ad hoc. It shouldn’t happen – it needs to be a proper process.”

According to Christianity and Mental Health, a report by Theos, demand in the UK is being partly “driven by immigrant communities and Pentecostal churches which are very open about their exorcism services”.

Ben Ryan, its author, said charismatic and Pentecostal churches, particularly in areas with large west African communities, were advertising “healings” and exorcism outside their premises.

But, he said, “some Christians are sometimes treating mental health issues as if everything is spiritual. So if someone tells a church leader they are suffering from depression, sometimes the response is that everything can be treated with prayer. The extreme end of that is exorcism.”

The report quoted one chaplain, who said he had “never seen anything I would say that looked like demonic possession, but I’ve seen plenty of people who have been told that’s what they’re experiencing by other Christians”. Priests in the US have also reported a growing demand for exorcisms in recent years.

The shortage of clergy trained in exorcism has led to a growing number of independent operators in Europe, who will rid people and properties of demons for up to €500 a time, according to the Economist.

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Dudeist-Priest t1_ja9jkll wrote

Fixing problems that don’t exist while ignoring or covering up the ones that do is very Vatican.

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wwarnout t1_ja9socz wrote

...and a very good reason to end their tax-exempt status.

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NotSayinItWasAliens t1_jaa4muf wrote

Hide ya children. Hide ya wife. Hide ya husband, 'cause they be exorcisin' everybody!

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Donohoed t1_ja9bvfb wrote

Goodness. 500,000 a year just in Italy. Somebody really dropped the ball there, i guess. Or dropped some acid.

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Shot-Spray5935 t1_jac2rkl wrote

That's only in Sicily Italy will have millions upon millions. A true crisis.

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Abides1948 t1_ja9pw3p wrote

Anglicans don't have to worry about possessions.

They're more concerned with repossessions.

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thecarbonkid t1_ja9zlu5 wrote

It's nine tenths of the law.

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tionong t1_jaaw68c wrote

Just in time for that new Russell Crowe movie about the head exorcist at the Vatican.

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No-Owl9201 t1_jabd2vf wrote

Is this rise in possessions because the Pope & his chums have been out shopping a bit too much??

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Crouteauxpommes t1_jabxd2e wrote

I mean, it's mostly training for the priests for how to react when people go to them for help. It's said in the article, the near totality of "possession" people report to their priest is just some normal human think, be it hyperactivity, depression, PTSD, etc... So I guess it would probably teach the priest how to identify such behaviour and help the family to contact medical specialists.

The Catholic church have a whole analysis method for classifying alleged miracles from "Nah, it's just normal human thing. Don't worry." to "Lemme call my boss, this is NOT supposed to happen!" or "Honestly, idk, seems legit. Unusual but legit." Seems only logical for them to do the same with possessions.

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Rosebunse t1_jaccf1q wrote

Exactly. And as the article points out, the rise in exorcisms is partially fueled by other churches rolling out their own exorcism services, ones which are more extreme and less monitored than the Catholic ones.

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sanjsrik t1_ja9or60 wrote

Is this the newest way they will cure all the pedophiles?

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BalamBeDamn t1_jaaqftv wrote

As if they have ever bothered to hold one accountable internally…

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Rosebunse t1_jacc86v wrote

The Catholic church has a lot of problems, but I generally think out of all Christian sects, they do exorcism the best. Mostly because, as this article points out, the Catholic church actually doesn't see every single case as demonic. And their method of exorcism is usually a lot more gentle and less disturbing than what we see from non-Catholic churches. It really is just a prayer, and as it is pointed out, the priest performing the exorcism is supposed to do all of this in collaboration with the person's medical team.

So many non-Catholic churches have a problem with that last part, where the afflicted are encouraged to go off their meds and disengage from their medical care team.

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zshah99 t1_jaa978g wrote

The world in histeric on this, but calm when someone says there are more than 2 gender.

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HortatorMoonAndStar t1_jabhr49 wrote

I dont think anyone is in hysterics over the Catholic Church doing what it's always done and yes, there are more than two genders. Gender identity is a social construct distinct from biological sex (and, by the way, if you know anything about biology you know there are more than two biological sexes as intersex people demonstrate).

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AlphaWolve2 t1_ja9dnm9 wrote

Technology!!!!! Not mental health and not demons…. Technology being controlled by human beings!!!!! Neuralink- Electronic parasites

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AlphaWolve2 t1_jab9qtk wrote

Downvote me hey???? Yes Demons that makes perfect logical sense!!!!! Humans are the demons and angels they’re not mythical creatures, science can explain all of it through technology and logic…. But yes let’s believe in Santa Claus and blame Santa(aka Satan)

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