Vatican endorses Exorcists

[Witchyjoshy]

http://www.joemygod.blogspot.com/2014/07/vatican-formally-endorses-exorcism.html

The blog is already quoting part of an article so I'll just summarize it up:

The Vatican has formally recognized the International Association of Exorcists, a group of 250 crackpots in 30 countries who "liberate" the naive from "demons."

Yay for the endorsement of torture, and yay for probably perpetuating the myth that people who are mentally ill are demon possessed.

[Ultimate Paragon]

Wow.

[MadCatTLX]

The Vatican has always endorsed exorcisms as far as I know. That said, I remember their policy being along the lines of only trying an exorcism on a person if everything else has failed(like therapy and medicine). The number of priests "certified" to perform exorcisms is rather small if I remember right. Exorcisms of buildings and objects are more common I think, and are often heard of as being used to stop a "haunting" and drive out the ghosts.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's still stupid, but the church was at least somewhat sensible about it as far as I knew. And at least exorcisms usually aren't as bad as "Re-birthing "therapy"". Extra quotation marks for emphasis.

[guizonde]

The Vatican has always endorsed exorcisms as far as I know. That said, I remember their policy being along the lines of only trying an exorcism on a person if everything else has failed(like therapy and medicine). The number of priests "certified" to perform exorcisms is rather small if I remember right. Exorcisms of buildings and objects are more common I think, and are often heard of as being used to stop a "haunting" and drive out the ghosts.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's still stupid, but the church was at least somewhat sensible about it as far as I knew. And at least exorcisms usually aren't as bad as "Re-birthing "therapy"". Extra quotation marks for emphasis.

i got the info from the vicar of st. sernin basilica (catholic, toulouse, france). the vatican actually HAS on call a brigade of exorcists. they are trained psychiatrists as well as having training in self-defence. church rank is give-or-take vicar, they are clergymen. when the vatican (or a local church) gets a call about demonic possession, they send in these guys to try and dispel the notion of demons (that's why they're shrinks. to actually diagnose schizophrenia or other mental illnesses), and if that fails yes they do an exorcism which involves fasting for a day, staying up all night in prayer, and chanting stuff in latin...

the vicar i talked to cracked up at that last part, because he knows full well that that's a pure placebo effect. but apparently the exorcist he knows is a really nice guy. whatever works, i guess. the funniest thing is that for once i commend the church on their progressive stance.

[niam2023]

Well, of course they need to endorse the Exorcists!

How else will the Millenium Earl be vanquished once and for all?

[Witchyjoshy]

The Vatican has always endorsed exorcisms as far as I know. That said, I remember their policy being along the lines of only trying an exorcism on a person if everything else has failed(like therapy and medicine). The number of priests "certified" to perform exorcisms is rather small if I remember right. Exorcisms of buildings and objects are more common I think, and are often heard of as being used to stop a "haunting" and drive out the ghosts.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's still stupid, but the church was at least somewhat sensible about it as far as I knew. And at least exorcisms usually aren't as bad as "Re-birthing "therapy"". Extra quotation marks for emphasis.

i got the info from the vicar of st. sernin basilica (catholic, toulouse, france). the vatican actually HAS on call a brigade of exorcists. they are trained psychiatrists as well as having training in self-defence. church rank is give-or-take vicar, they are clergymen. when the vatican (or a local church) gets a call about demonic possession, they send in these guys to try and dispel the notion of demons (that's why they're shrinks. to actually diagnose schizophrenia or other mental illnesses), and if that fails yes they do an exorcism which involves fasting for a day, staying up all night in prayer, and chanting stuff in latin...

the vicar i talked to cracked up at that last part, because he knows full well that that's a pure placebo effect. but apparently the exorcist he knows is a really nice guy. whatever works, i guess. the funniest thing is that for once i commend the church on their progressive stance.

That sounds good, but I'm not sure this organization is anything like those exorcists.

[Dakota Bob]

The link in the OP seems to have suffered a critical existence failure.

[Sigmaleph]

The link in the OP seems to have suffered a critical existence failure.

It's working for me.

[Ironchew]

when the vatican (or a local church) gets a call about demonic possession, they send in these guys to try and dispel the notion of demons (that's why they're shrinks. to actually diagnose schizophrenia or other mental illnesses), and if that fails yes they do an exorcism which involves fasting for a day, staying up all night in prayer, and chanting stuff in latin...

Indulging the client's delusions by doing the exorcism only encourages them to rebuff the earlier evidence-based intervention. I wouldn't laud the exorcists' medical credentials when it's very clear they aren't practicing medicine.

the vicar i talked to cracked up at that last part, because he knows full well that that's a pure placebo effect. but apparently the exorcist he knows is a really nice guy. whatever works, i guess. the funniest thing is that for once i commend the church on their progressive stance.

Propping up medieval fears of demonic possession is the exact opposite of progressive. It's a relic of the dark ages.

[guizonde]

when the vatican (or a local church) gets a call about demonic possession, they send in these guys to try and dispel the notion of demons (that's why they're shrinks. to actually diagnose schizophrenia or other mental illnesses), and if that fails yes they do an exorcism which involves fasting for a day, staying up all night in prayer, and chanting stuff in latin...

Indulging the client's delusions by doing the exorcism only encourages them to rebuff the earlier evidence-based intervention. I wouldn't laud the exorcists' medical credentials when it's very clear they aren't practicing medicine.

the vicar i talked to cracked up at that last part, because he knows full well that that's a pure placebo effect. but apparently the exorcist he knows is a really nice guy. whatever works, i guess. the funniest thing is that for once i commend the church on their progressive stance.

Propping up medieval fears of demonic possession is the exact opposite of progressive. It's a relic of the dark ages.

just to be clear, the exorcism happens perhaps once for every 250-300 calls. and unfortunately, yes, some people still do believe in demons, even if the church doesn't believe in them anymore

[Ironchew]

when the vatican (or a local church) gets a call about demonic possession, they send in these guys to try and dispel the notion of demons (that's why they're shrinks. to actually diagnose schizophrenia or other mental illnesses), and if that fails yes they do an exorcism which involves fasting for a day, staying up all night in prayer, and chanting stuff in latin...

Indulging the client's delusions by doing the exorcism only encourages them to rebuff the earlier evidence-based intervention. I wouldn't laud the exorcists' medical credentials when it's very clear they aren't practicing medicine.

the vicar i talked to cracked up at that last part, because he knows full well that that's a pure placebo effect. but apparently the exorcist he knows is a really nice guy. whatever works, i guess. the funniest thing is that for once i commend the church on their progressive stance.

Propping up medieval fears of demonic possession is the exact opposite of progressive. It's a relic of the dark ages.

just to be clear, the exorcism happens perhaps once for every 250-300 calls. and unfortunately, yes, some people still do believe in demons, even if the church doesn't believe in them anymore

PZ Myers said it best:
"Somebody somewhere is going to have to someday point me to some intelligent arguments for gods, because I’ve sure never found them. And I know, someone is going to complain that I always pick on the weak arguments…while not bothering to tell me what the strong ones are."

Maybe they wouldn't believe in demons if the church didn't try so hard to convince them that demons exist...

[guizonde]

Maybe they wouldn't believe in demons if the church didn't try so hard to convince them that demons exist...

i don't like religion as much as the next godless commie atheist, but i think that jab was uncalled for. to my knowledge, the three major monotheisms called bull on those decades if not centuries ago (XIXth century, i believe), so all that is left is the tiny cults and radical offshoots. the vocal minority, if you will.

for kicks: now picture that vocal minority screeching BEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLZZZZZZEEEEEEEEEEBBUUUUUUUUUUUUUBBBBB!!!!

[Witchyjoshy]

Um, I would venture to say that any Christian that believes in angels also believes in demons.

[Igor]

Um, I would venture to say that any Christian that believes in angels also believes in demons.

ANGELS. AREN'T. REAL, ERIKA. </Cecil>

(all angels are named Erika, with a k. And they don't exist, of course.)

[Stormwarden]

Well, of course they need to endorse the Exorcists!

How else will the Millenium Earl be vanquished once and for all?

MILLENIUM EARL?! WHERE?! *Has Alan Walker on Speeddial*