Vatican offering exorcism courses

[dr. what]

BOO!!

ROME, Italy (AP) -- A Vatican-linked university is offering courses on Satanism, black magic and exorcism, in a bid to educate clergy and seminarians about the lure of the devil.

The class at Rome's Pontifical Academy "Regina Apostolorum" has arisen from alarm about Satanic practices among young people, especially in Italy.

In one case in Italy in January, eight people believed to belong to a Satanic sect were ordered to stand trial for their alleged role in three ritual killings.

One of the victims was a 19-year-old girl stabbed to death in 1998. She may have been targeted because her killers believed she was a personification of the Virgin Mary, prosecutors allege. The suspects belonged to a heavy metal band called "Beasts of Satan."

The Vatican is also concerned about a growing number of young people who develop personal forms of Satanism, outside the sects that are closely monitored by police. They often learn about the devil through the Internet.

"It's a more spontaneous and hidden phenomenon, a problem of loneliness and isolation, a problem of emptiness, that is fulfilled by the values of Satanism," said one of the teachers, Carlo Climati, a specialist on youth culture and Satanism.

Climati said concerned parents had been asking for a special course for priests.

The pontifical academy is run by the Legionaries of Christ, a conservative order, and teachers for the class include exorcists and psychiatrists.

In 1999, the Vatican issued its first new guidelines since 1614 for driving out devils, offering cautions to exorcists about taking psychiatric problems into account.

The updated exorcism rite, first issued in Latin and contained in a red, leather-bound book, was a reflection of Pope John Paul II's efforts to convince the skeptical that the devil is very much in the world. At the time, he gave a series of homilies denouncing the devil as a "cosmic liar and murderer."

Among the widely accepted signs of possession by the devil are speaking in unknown tongues and demonstrating physical force beyond one's natural capacity.

[Mayabird]

Among the widely accepted signs of possession by the devil are speaking in unknown tongues and demonstrating physical force beyond one's natural capacity.

Penecostals vs. exorcists! FIGHT!

[General Zod]

Among the widely accepted signs of possession by the devil are speaking in unknown tongues and demonstrating physical force beyond one's natural capacity.

Penecostals vs. exorcists! FIGHT!

so does that mean computer geeks are considered possessed by the devil? especially the ones that speak 1337 and rely upon gaseously explosive combinations of uber caffeinated drinks and nachos to stay active?

[Kuroneko]

so does that mean computer geeks are considered possessed by the devil? especially the ones that speak 1337 and rely upon gaseously explosive combinations of uber caffeinated drinks and nachos to stay active?

Perhaps those are merely insane. Apparently, there is a difference between possession and insanity:

"Because each case of possession is different, each person possessed is different. Those studying to become exorcists should also study psychology and know how to distinguish between a mental illness and a possession. ..."

I have no idea what this difference might be.

[neoolong]

Or you can spend $6.50 and copy John Constantine's method of exorcism utilizing a coin, a mirror, and a little girl. Little girl not included.

[Mange]

So, youth rebellion and mental illnesses are contributed to possession by evil demons? What is this, the Dark Ages?

[Gustav32Vasa]

So, youth rebellion and mental illnesses are contributed to possession by evil demons? What is this, the Dark Ages?

In some parts of the world, yes.

[Melchior]

Luckily, in the 99% of the cases, they simple send the suspected "demon possessed" person to a doctor.
It is the 1% of the cases that they believe to be truly possessed that should worry.

[entfern]

demonstrating physical force beyond one's natural capacity.

The Pope's against Speed Surprise surprise

[wolveraptor]

someone should accuse their dean of being possessed.

sweet, sweet havoc.

[Pick]

Hmmm...

he he he, yeah, go for the outside "corruption." Isn't it their own damn book that says... what was it, you can see the sliver in your friend's eye but not the log in your own? (I used to think a log in my eye would be noticeable, but my cynical nature is healthily maturing. )

[Dalton]

Could it be...mmmmmmmmmmmSSSSSATAN?!

How archaic can you get...demons. Right. And I'm possessed by the ghost of Doc Holliday.

[Darth Wong]

BOO!!

ROME, Italy (AP) -- A Vatican-linked university is offering courses on Satanism, black magic and exorcism, in a bid to educate clergy and seminarians about the lure of the devil.

The class at Rome's Pontifical Academy "Regina Apostolorum" has arisen from alarm about Satanic practices among young people, especially in Italy.

In one case in Italy in January, eight people believed to belong to a Satanic sect were ordered to stand trial for their alleged role in three ritual killings.

One of the victims was a 19-year-old girl stabbed to death in 1998. She may have been targeted because her killers believed she was a personification of the Virgin Mary, prosecutors allege. The suspects belonged to a heavy metal band called "Beasts of Satan."

So an isolated case is just cause to persecute anyone who you think is "Satanic"? By that logic, Andrea Yates and Deanna Laney would be just cause to persecute all Christian homeschoolers on suspicion that they're about to murder their children.

The Vatican is also concerned about a growing number of young people who develop personal forms of Satanism, outside the sects that are closely monitored by police. They often learn about the devil through the Internet.

"It's a more spontaneous and hidden phenomenon, a problem of loneliness and isolation, a problem of emptiness, that is fulfilled by the values of Satanism," said one of the teachers, Carlo Climati, a specialist on youth culture and Satanism.

The irony of a Catholic saying this is so thick you can cut it with a knife. This is the same church that aggressively proselytizes in the poorest, most disease-ridden parts of the world, claiming to be able to bring spiritual solace to people whose lives are shitty.

Climati said concerned parents had been asking for a special course for priests.

The pontifical academy is run by the Legionaries of Christ, a conservative order, and teachers for the class include exorcists and psychiatrists.

In 1999, the Vatican issued its first new guidelines since 1614 for driving out devils, offering cautions to exorcists about taking psychiatric problems into account.

The updated exorcism rite, first issued in Latin and contained in a red, leather-bound book, was a reflection of Pope John Paul II's efforts to convince the skeptical that the devil is very much in the world. At the time, he gave a series of homilies denouncing the devil as a "cosmic liar and murderer."

Among the widely accepted signs of possession by the devil are speaking in unknown tongues and demonstrating physical force beyond one's natural capacity.

It's interesting that the article never says what an exorcist will do to the subject.

[Darth Servo]

It's interesting that the article never says what an exorcist will do to the subject.

You don't think it would have anything to do with inserting rather than removing something, do you?

[wolveraptor]

yeah, it's shocking how Christians (and not just fundies, mainstream guys too) believe in demons. my friend's entire family says that there really are, "dark forces out there."

it took all my martial discipline not to laugh out loud. it comes right out of a fairy-tale book for crying out loud!

oh, and they refuse to prove it. all one guy said to me is, "trust me."

[Vendetta]

I believe over here Channel 4 is planning a show where people are going to be exorcised on Television, whilst under scientific observation, to find out what actually happens during the process.

It probably won't show much though, the CofE says that most people who ask it for an exorcism would be better off speaking to a psychiatrist, because they usually turn out to be mentally ill.

[Rye]

As I understand it, the CoE doesn't have many exorcists, while the catholic church has at least 1 per diocese.

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

Bah! This is nothing compared to the stupidity of Indonesian government. They actually made a law to prosecute anyone who harm other people using supernatural methods (commonly called santet or teluh; Indonesian version of voodoo). No, I'm not kidding.

[Sarevok]

I would rather call the Ghostbusters.