Archbishop Naumann sent word to me today indicating that there were few requests for exorcisms within his diocese. Apparently he is not on the ground with his people as I have done three exorcisms on Catholics in the last year. He argues that a person must go through a battery of testing by doctors and psychiatric personnel before an exorcism is performed. While such tests are surely helpful, I have performed exorcisms on people who came great distances for the exorcism and there was no time for such interventions. He argues that exorcism is always a major affair because one is fighting with the Devil. Such opinions are laughable. The Devil neither has time nor desire to possess any body. It is demons, elementals, ghosts, and evil spirits which possess people. His ignorance is surpassed only by his arrogance.
In fact, exorcisms can be as simple as described in scripture, a mere force of the exorcist will commanding the demon to leave. Acts 5:16. Or an exorcism can take great effort as is seen in such movies as the Exorcist, the Exorcism of Gail Bower, or other popularized accounts. The person doing the exorcism must have the gift of faith, a strong gift beyond mere childhood belief, and sufficient holiness that the demon will fear the presence of G-d's person. Most priests today do not have such accoutrements. Many do not even believe in the Devil or demons.
If people are going to be increasingly looking at exorcisms, they are going to have to depend upon people like me to do them.
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