- Title: ITALY: VATICAN OFFERS EXORCISM AND SATANISM COURSES FOR ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS
- Date: 18th February 2005
- Summary: (L!1) ROME, ITALY (FEBRUARY 15, 2005) (REUTERS) SLV PAN LIBRARY AT ROME'S REGINA APOSTOLORUM PONTIFICAL UNIVERSITY WITH STUDENTS READING; SCU BOOKS ON SHELVES SLV/MV FATHER FRANCESCO BAMONTE, WALKING PAST BOOK SHELVES, AND READING BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT OF SATANISM. (0.38) (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FATHER FRANCESCO BAMONTE SAYING: "There has been a lack of training in the last twenty, thirty years in the classes held in seminaries and in theology classes. This has also created a problem on the part of some priests to address a problem that continues to increase, that of people turning to occultism, which has caused a lot of damage". (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FATHER BAMONTE SHOWING AN INVERTED CRUCIFIX, SAYING: "This, the inverted crucifix, as you can see the hole is found on the bottom part and represents the overturning of all those values which have always been in the heart of man, irrespective of culture and religion, an overturning of society presenting good as being evil, and evil as being good". (1.29) SLV CLASS UNDERWAY AT THE UNIVERSITY (1.42) (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) CARLO CLIMATI, A PROFESSOR OF THE COURSE SAYING: "A phenomenon, which I define as do-it-yourself Satanism is occurring. Today's young Satanists don't belong to sects, but are small groups of two or three people who come together via means of communication, through music, lyrics, internet which provides this type of information. So, today, we see it is much easier to come into contact with Satanism compared to twenty years ago." (2.10) SLV/MV CLASS AT THE UNIVERSITY UNDERWAY (2.23) (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR, FATHER PAOLO SCARAFONI, SAYING: "It is important to be able to distinguish between other types of pathologies, sensations, something which has become a fashion, and, instead, where the demon really exists. The work of exorcists, concerns cases where the demon has intervened. Not all priests are exorcists but they can still help by distinguishing (the type of problem) and only bring cases to an exorcist where there is a highly probable presence of the demon, a possession. In other cases, they could suggest going to a psychologist, or simply give good advice, to pray more, or to attend more sacraments. In this moment, where there is great confusion, we thought it was a good idea to offer this type of training to priests". (3.27)
- Embargoed: 5th March 2005 12:00
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- Location: ROME, ZAGAROLO, ITALY
- City:
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Quirky,Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA7S2SAY9ANJJ9DESWVTEFU8VEP
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- Story Text: Vatican is offering exorcism and satanism courses for Roman Catholic priests.
Mention the word exorcism and blood-curdling scenes of a priest battling a violent demon, as portrayed in the 1973 film The Exorcist, immediately spring to mind.
But, even in the modern-day Catholic church, this centuries-old ritual is still performed by many of its priests, including, Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, who shocked Catholics when he briefly married a member of the Moon sect.
An exorcism is performed to cast a demon from a person suspected of possession.
The Regina Apostolorum, one of Rome's most prestigious pontifical universities, will hold a special theoretical and practical course for Roman Catholic priests on Satanism and exorcism in response to what the Church says is a worrying interest in the occult, particularly among the young.
Experienced exorcist, Father Francesco Bamonte, agrees the course is a good idea as there is a lack of understanding among priests on how to confront this ever-growing phenomenon.
"There has been a lack of training in the last 20-30 years in the classes held in seminaries and in theology classes," explained Father Bamonte, who practices in the archdiocese of Rome and added that the lack of training "has also created a problem on the part of some priests to address this problem which has continued to increase, that of people turning to occultism."
This year, Italy was gripped by the story of two teenage members of a heavy metal rock band called the Beasts of Satan who were killed by other band members in a human sacrifice.
The deaths horrified Catholic Italy, with pages of newspapers given over to descriptions of the black candles and goats skulls decorating one victims bedroom and witness statements of sexual violence.
According to some estimates, as many as 5,000 people are thought to be members of Satanic cults in Italy with 17-to 25-year-olds making up three quarters of them.
Interest in the devil and the occult has been boosted by films such as 'The Exorcist' in 1973 and this years 'Exorcist: The Beginning'.
"Its a phenomenon, which I define as do-it-yourself Satanism is occurring", Carlo Climati, one of the professors of the course, told Reuters.
"Today's young Satanists don't belong to sects, but are small groups of two or three people who come together via means of communication, through music, lyrics, internet which provides this type of information. So, today, we see it is much easier to come into contact with Satanism compared to 20 years ago," added professor Climati.
The two-month course, which begins on February 17, and will be limited to priests and advanced students of theology, will include themes such as Satanism, diabolic possession and prayers of liberation.
University Chancellor Father Paolo Scarafoni says the course will also help priests distinguish the problem of Satanism from the need for exorcism as one does not necessarily lead to the other.
"It is important to be able to distinguish between other types of pathologies, sensations, something which has become a fashion, and, instead, where the demon really exists," said Father Paolo Scarafoni.
The work of exorcists, concerns cases where the demon has intervened.
"Not all priests are exorcists, but they can still help by distinguishing (the type of problem) and only bring cases to an exorcist where there is a highly probable presence of the demon -- a possession. In other cases, they could suggest going to a psychologist, or simply give good advice -- to pray more, or to attend more sacraments. In this moment, where there is great confusion, we thought it was a good idea to offer this type of training to priests,"
he said.
In 1999, the Vatican issued its first updated ritual for exorcism since 1614 and warned that the devil is still at work.
The official Roman Catholic exorcism starts with prayers, a blessing and sprinkling of holy water and the laying on of hands on the possessed.
Itwith an imperative formula in which the devil is ordered to leave the possessed. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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