Get Out There and Exorcize!

Heaven is real. Hell is real. There are devils that influence people's behavior just as there are saints who influence people. It is the Catholic Church's responsibility to teach our priests about possession so that they can instruct people. It is vital that the priests teach the importance of the sacraments. -- Janie Krecker

As the people of the world slowly wake up and see the dangers of religious fundamentalism -- which is not just a problem within Islam but of all denominations of Christianity as well -- they are also beginning to see the problems with the church. The world now has two of the most powerful positions filled by Christian fundamentalists. One has the worlds largest arsenal of weapons of mass destruction at his control and the other was the head of the Inquisition before he became pope. Neither have much tolerance for beliefs other than their own. We can only pray or hope that the death throes of these intolerant institutions will not destroy us all or bring back the dark ages, where individuals of differing religion or opinion could be burned at the stake. -- William Anderson

The classes on exorcism are very much needed. The devil is real and he is like a lion looking for someone to devour. Thank God priests are showing concern. -- Rita V. Smith

Yes, most definitely our priests need to be, at the very least, educated on the reality of the havoc that can be done to people who have messed around with the occult, Ouiji boards, New Age spiritualism, witchcraft, wiccans, psychics, palm readers, familial curses, hexes, divination, horoscopes and, of course, Satanism. The most logical and important help is for people to renounce and reject forever these sins through sacramental confession. Too many priests in the USA are afraid of even saying the exorcism prayer of Pope Leo the XIII. -- Jim, USA

On the exorcism class, two thoughts. First, I think it's a good thing that priests know this information because it's real. Second, I think it's kind of odd that you would poll the general population about it, seeing as you wouldn't poll them about the technical details of, say, chemistry or brain surgery or economic theory. I think you don't understand the nature of the classes. -- Clare

A class on exorcisms is a good thing, and it might include the following books. "Hostage to the Devil" by Fr. Malachi Martin; Glimpses of the Devil" by M. Scott Peck, MD.; "People of the Lie" by M. Scott Peck, MD; "An Exorcist Tells His Story" by Gabriel Amorth, and "In the Name of Satan" by Bob Larson. -- Mike Kechula, Phoenix, USA

I think exorcism class is a great idea. Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Ohio, (www.franciscan.edu), held a course on it during the summer of 2004. It was a great course that enlightened many people to the dangers of spiritual warfare, not to mention some of the excesses of modern day charismatic influences. -- Kevin J. Symonds, B.A., M.A. (Cand.)Theology, USA