Why does exorcism occur

When carried out, the rite will involve spoken prayers, readings from scripture and sometimes the gentle laying on of hands. Authorised exorcism will never include any violent contact, touching in intimate areas or interaction which could be interpreted as having sexual connotations. In contrast, within some other traditions, for instance some forms of Pentecostalism and Charismatic Evangelicalism, exorcism is seen as routine and many members of the community receive it without worry or stigma — almost akin to purifying rituals.

Those undergoing them are not necessarily at risk, but there is always the danger they could be. In a liberal, democratic society, the state does not seek to make value judgements in relation to the religious choices of citizens. Without good reason, there is no justification for limiting the freedom of individuals to express their faith as they see fit. It would be difficult to argue for secular regulation of exorcism across the board.

But equally, it would be irresponsible to ignore the challenges which some exorcism practices can present. There have been a number of tragic cases of people, children as well as adults , dying as a result of exorcism rituals in the UK and elsewhere.

There is also ample evidence of people who feel that they were subjected to rituals to which they did not properly consent , or were kept from accessing medical treatment or other forms of support for some time, prolonging their suffering and the distress to those around them.

In some respects, the law in England and Wales is clear. Where children are concerned, child abuse is child abuse, regardless of the motivation behind it. If a child is suffering, or at risk from harm which is sufficiently serious, then public authorities need to act — and they are required to do so.

In popular culture, exorcism often serves as a plot device in chilling films about demonic possession. This month, two Roman Catholic archbishops showed a different face of exorcism — performing the rite at well-attended outdoor ceremonies to drive out any evil spirits lingering after acrimonious protests. The events' distinctive character gave a hint of how exorcism — with roots in ancient times — has evolved in some ways as it becomes more commonplace in many parts of the world.

The event followed more than four months of racial justice protests in Portland, mostly peaceful but sometimes fueling violence and riots. On the same day, miles to the south, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone performed an exorcism ceremony outside a Catholic church in San Rafael, where protesters had earlier toppled a statue of Father Junipero Serra. Serra was an 18th-century Spanish missionary priest, long praised by the church for bringing Roman Catholicism to what is now the western United States.

His critics say that Serra, in converting Native Americans to Catholicism, forced them to abandon their culture or face brutal punishment. Two experts on exorcism -- religious studies professor Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University and the Rev.

Pius Pietrzyk of St. Chesnut noted that in Mexico, some high-ranking Catholic clergy performed an exorcism in seeking to expel demons nationwide. The witnesses to this event respond in amazement that Jesus has authority over evil spirits.

All three synoptic Gospels also include the healing of the Gerasene demoniac. Swear to God that you will not torture me! We then learn that the man is actually possessed by many demons, called Legion, like an army of Roman soldiers. Jesus allows the demons to enter into a herd of pigs, which then all rush into the Sea of Galilee.

He does so reluctantly because, as he explains to her, he has come to bring deliverance to the Jews, who deserve the benefits of the kingdom of God. In all three synoptic Gospels, Jesus performs an exorcism on a boy after his disciples had tried unsuccessfully to do so. The evil spirit had caused the boy to be deaf and dumb and tried to harm him by throwing him into fire or water.

Before it departs, the spirit throws the boy to the ground, and witnesses think that he is dead. Jesus explains that this type of demon comes out only with prayer.

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. The Gospel of John has no examples of exorcisms—only references to people accusing Jesus of being possessed by a demon. So what does the Roman Catholic Church teach about exorcism today?

The practice, in addition to being subject to sensationalism, raises theological and pastoral questions. What is evil? Does evil primarily come from inside of us or from outside of us?

Do the social sciences allow us to treat most examples of possession as various forms of mental illness? Is the practice of exorcism best forgotten, or is there any value in it? The church has included the practice of exorcism which was common in Judaism before Jesus in its rites for the last 2, years. The church teaches that a possessed person is not responsible for his or her evil actions.

There is at least one official exorcist for every diocese in the world, but his identity is a secret usually known only to the bishop. Among Christian churches, only Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians and Episcopalians still have a formal exorcism ritual.

A simple or minor exorcism, in which one asks God to protect a person or thing from evil powers, is part of the sacrament of baptism. The prayer to St. The U. Conference of Catholic Bishops recommends that every diocese have a protocol for handling claims of demonic possession:.

Only after a thorough examination including medical, psychological, and psychiatric testing might the person be referred to the exorcist for a final determination regarding demonic possession. To be clear, the actual determination of whether a member of the faithful is genuinely possessed by the devil is made by the Church, even if individuals claim to be possessed through their own self-diagnosis or psychosis.