[Antioch]

An interesting secular account of the rise in exorcisms in the modern Catholic Church.

[sinanju]

Bah! Old hat.

I wanna hear about the vampire hunters!

[nickcarraway]

Ping

[Zetman]

I thought Time's placement of the link to follow in order to view photos of the Pope was a bit suspect (link is in parens). Whoever edited this story on the web site probably enjoyed a good chuckle over their "subtle" dig:

The course would bring in experts — experts in satanic cults, experts in criminology, they even had a psychiatrist come in to talk to the priests about the differences between the various mental illnesses that could be confused for demonic possession vs. what the church says is actually demonic possession. (See photos of Pope Benedict XVI.)

[Trod Upon]

Can they get the hobgoblin out of the White House?

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[NavyCanDo]

TRUE STORY - One of the strangest things I ever saw was at a church Sumner youth camp. I must of been around 14 or 15 at the time. Not Catholic, it was a camp of evangelical kids. Anyway one night at alter call a girl my age (the one I had a church camp crush on) knelt down with a few of her friends at the steps in front of the alter and all of a sudden she went ballistic, kicking, biting, screaming in a very strange voice, hitting and scratching at anyone who got near her. We in the pews were really freaking out. It was terrifying to say the least. The elders finally were able to hold her down and began praying, and asking the demon to come out. She finally did calm down and returned to normal.

Was it a demon? I don't know. But I tell you it scared the you know what out of me. I never did pursue that summer camp crush after that scene.

[dangus]

>> When he first heard about a Vatican-sponsored course on exorcism for priests, <<

The course is for priests, not the exorcisms. Don’t split your clauses!