This Really Makes My Head Spin All The Way Around

Last updated on: June 26, 2011 at 10:47 pm by Jeffrey L. Falick

This Really Makes My Head Spin All The Way Around 2011-06-26T22:47:00-05:00 Jeffrey L. Falick

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Last week 700 people showed up at a San Angelo, Texas seminar on exorcism sponsored by the Catholic Church. Here is the Bishop of the local Catholic Diocese (via mywesttexas.com):

“Over the centuries, ritual books have been prepared by the churches to be used in exorcisms and dealing with diabolical influence,” Pfeifer said. Different forms of that influence include obsession, such as with sex, drugs or alcohol; posession, which commonly is referred to as the haunting of places or things; and the most critical case of possession, when the devil takes over a person. Possession is usually the stage that requires a major exorcism.

“It’s a very frightening and difficult experience,” Pfeifer said. Though he said he has participated in exorcisms in West Texas, he would not disclose the number of cases or details about the experiences. Ritual prayers and sacraments such as holy water are used, he said.

He goes on to say that the devil is also working “more so through secular things in the world that can be used for good.”

At what point do we stop taking these people seriously and begin to openly point and giggle at them?

The seminar was conducted by the Rev. Dennis McManus, “whose appointed ministry with the Archdiocese of New York is exorcism.” The New York Archdiocese actually has someone holding the portfolio of exorcism. Why does anyone take anything these people have to say seriously?

Interestingly, there was no mention of pedophilia. But really…why would you blame that on Satan when you’ve already indicted Woodstock?

Blog Entries

Catholicism

Science and Reason

Previous Post

June 26, 2011

The Buses Can Run When They Have Made Havdala

Next Post

July 1, 2011 Today Is Canada Day

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Entries

Select a Month January 2017 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 December 2014 February 2014 December 2013 October 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was Jude?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Brother of Peter The apostle who replaced Judas Brother of Jesus The first martyred apostle