Famous exorcist: 'The devil loves to take over those who hold political office'

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Fr. Gabriele Amorth

Rome, Italy, Jun 6, 2008 / 11:10 am (CNA).- In an interview with the magazine “Maria Mensajera,” famous Italian exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth said, “Everybody is vulnerable to the work of Satan” and that “the devil loves to take over those who hold political office.”

The Spanish daily “La Razon” published the interview in an article by Alexander Smoltczyk in which the 82 year-old priest describes what happens in an exorcism. He said he has performed more than 70,000.

“Evil exists in politics, quite often in fact,” Father Amorth said. “The devil loves to take over business leaders and those who hold political office. Hitler and Stalin were possessed. How do I know? Because they killed millions of people. The Gospel says: ‘By their fruits you will know them.’ Unfortunately, an exorcism on them would not have been enough, since they were convinced of what they were doing. We can’t say it was a possession in the strict sense of the word, but rather a total and voluntary acceptance of the suggestions of the devil.”

“I tell those who come to see me to first go to a doctor or a psychologist,” the priest continued. “Most of the time there is a physical or psychological basis for explaining their suffering. The psychiatrists send me the incurable cases. There is no rivalry. The psychiatrist determines if it is an illness, the exorcist if it is a curse,” Father Amorth explained.

Nobody, he went on, not even himself, is “safe from the devil. Everyone is vulnerable.” “The devil is very intelligent. He retains the intelligence of the angel that he was.”

“Suppose, for example, that someone you work with is envious of you and casts a spell on you. You would get sick. 90 percent of the cases that I deal with are precisely spells. The rest are due to membership in satanic sects or participation in séances or magic. If you live in harmony with God, it is much more difficult for the devil to possess you,” Father Amorth stated.

“The Pope supports exorcists,” he explained, but “satanic sects are proliferating,” and for this reason Father Amorth said his calendar for the next two months is full. “I work seven days a week, from morning until night, including Christmas Eve and Holy Week,” he said.

Comments: 33

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Glory
Tx 03/10/2010 09:41 PM EST

You better believe satan is out there and he is doing just what was predicted in the Bible. For anyone to say that possession does not exists probably means that they do need an exorcism. God Bless you Father for all that you do.

Published by: Mary Gordon
New York City, NY, USA 07/19/2009 08:58 PM EST

I agree with some of this, but Proverbs says "like a sparrow looking for a place to land, an undeserved curse will not land." I don't know what God's definition of "undeserved curse" is, but I'm sure it covers most of them. I do believe we should stay away from Harry Potter b/c Deuteronomy 18 says that wizards will not enter the Promised Land. God hates what they do. If we love God, we have no business being entertained by a young wizard, even in fiction. It's the principle of love. I don't even appreciate Christians leading me into temptation by touting the books.

Published by: Lewisbee
usa 04/21/2009 06:50 AM EST

A very smart and diplomatic answer. It’s really appreciable and generous.

foreclosures

Published by: Lewis
india 04/21/2009 06:48 AM EST

The people are losing their moral while becoming modern The society needs to be attentive that moral values. Well things needs to be modernized but keeping intact with moral values.

foreclosures

Published by: Lynda Keebler
Woodstock, GA 01/28/2009 08:37 PM EST

1/28/09
I agree with this guy!, 'The devil loves to take over those who hold political office', don't know how this comment of mine below got here but it seems it was for a different article, not this one!!!

Published by: Lynda Keebler
Woodstock, GA, USA 10/06/2008 07:59 AM EST
Don't believe this guy? Think this a lot of nonsense? Just ask those who have been there, I have read some eye opening accounts of those who have been involved and escaped the occult. They say stay away from Harry Potter and the like, that the devil is real and roaring like a lion, seeking who he may devour.

Published by: Andrea
USA 06/29/2008 05:24 PM EST

Thank you Fr Amorth for sharing your wisdom with us.

Published by: James Rangle
toronto, Canada 06/14/2008 02:03 AM EST

Rate: Regular

With all due respect, when an exorcist claims that literally "90%" of the exorcisms he has to deal with are of the type of such as envious coworkers casting spells?, then the Church's (Italian?) exorcists really need some help. This reeks too much of pre-Christian beliefs in evil eyes and gyspsy curses. We are Catholics, evil does exist, but this Mediterranean, for lack of a better term, view of jealous friends working spells can only REALLY hurt people dealing with real issues of health, mental or otherwise, and confuse things and do serious damage to them seeking the appropriate help and not blaming the "witch" next door for her cow dying. Some reason please. Evil exists, the Church has methods for combating REAL cases but this acceptance of spells is something Jesus Christ himself NEVER spoke of!

Published by: Alfonso
Ottawa, Canada 06/12/2008 03:13 PM EST

The greatest tactic of the Devil is to have people believe that he does not exist, or that warnings such as those of Fr. Amorth are nothing more than "superstitious nonsense", "witch panics" and "mumbo-jumbo". To affirm the power of the Devil in today's society does not mean that one lacks a sense of hope and joy in the salvation brought into this world by Christ. It simply means that one recognizes that man has the capacity to accept or reject that salvation, and that the rejection of Christ has some very severe and very real consequences.

The Church is not "superstitious" or "witch hunting"; She is merely trying to save souls by showing them where the darkness lies and inviting them to follow the True Light which is Christ Himself.

Thank you, Fr. Amorth, for having the courage to do this.

Published by: judy
Houston, Texas 06/10/2008 01:19 PM EST

jenchen My Nephew joined the Marine right after the 911 terrorist attacks obn Our Country He is a Very Good Man. sometimes We have to fight to protect Those We Love. I am Very Proud of My Nephew. at any rate May God Bless you and open your eyes.

Published by: William K.
Charlottesville, VA, USA 06/10/2008 12:39 PM EST

"Is my memory playing up, or did the Vatican sign a Concordant with the Nazi party, and Hitler remained a dedicated member of the Church for his entire life? Yet he was possessed by the devil? Interesting... so the Catholic Church was aligned with the devil..."

I don't mean to be rude, but your logic is a bit lacking (as is your knowledge of history). Hitler persecuted the Catholic Church, the Church signed a concordant with the Germans trying to avoid this persecution, but Hitler went back on his word and persecuted the Church anyway. The Church then issue the famous letter "Mit Brennder Sorge" (forgive me if the spelling is a bit off) which condemned the Nazi regime... in 1937! Just because someone signed a concordant with another country or entity at one point in the past, does not mean that they continued to support said country/entity in perpetuity. People change their minds: so too did the Church change to attack Hitler when the Church saw what he really was about and saw past his lies. During the war it did what it could to frustrate Hitler when it could, but it did so quietly having learned from experience that loud protests only led to greater persecution.

And I also submit to you the fact that the Chief Rabbi of Rome converted to Catholicism after WW2. The Church is not perfect but don't invent false charges please, at least use with accurate history/critiques.

Published by: Lynda Keebler
Woodstock, GA, USA 06/10/2008 07:59 AM EST

Don't believe this guy? Think this a lot of nonsense? Just ask those who have been there, I have read some eye opening accounts of those who have been involved and escaped the occult. They say stay away from Harry Potter and the like, that the devil is real and roaring like a lion, seeking who he may devour.

Published by: David Mitchell
Durham, England 06/09/2008 07:14 PM EST

Nonsense are some of the comments that have been made. The devil certainly exists, and how can anyone doubt that there is such a thing as demonic possession and demonic obsession?
St Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
I read in the Catholic Herald that the Catholic Truth Society has published a book about exorcism, that has sold more copies than anything else they have ever printed.

Published by: Brian
Indianapolis, IN, USA 06/09/2008 06:09 PM EST

I'm afraid that the Anonymous Freethinker's remark demands a serious and honest response.

Published by: Mike O'Risal
Worcester, MA US 06/09/2008 04:33 PM EST

Rate: Bad

Sounds like a lot of superstitious nonsense to me. I find it sad that there are large swaths of humanity that still believe in demons, devils and spell-casting wizards. This is no different than the witch panics going on in under-developed countries, except that in Europe and North America we've had the opportunity for education that should have long since steered us away from magical mumbo-jumbo.

Published by: Frank
MD 06/09/2008 03:37 PM EST

Goldman: You are totally deluded. President Bush is a great PROLIFE President and a defender of America. May byewhy your comments are so insidiuous and hateful. Remember Satan came to kill and destroy.

Published by: James H
London, UK 06/09/2008 08:41 AM EST

Please, people, Harry Potter is not demonic! And no, the Pope has not denounced them, they have no genuine spells, reading them will not 'open up' anyone to any bad influence. Please just read the books, OK?

Published by: Gerry H
St Paul, MN 06/08/2008 08:18 PM EST

Co workers casting spells - you've got to be joking. What a load of dangerous nonsense.

Published by: Remnant
Toronto 06/08/2008 02:32 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

Anyone who reads the above article and doubts its credibility needs to read: Good Bye, Good Men, by Michael Rose. Evil men rise to power among our bishops and seminary rectors with Satan's help. Believe me, I saw things from the inside for over 20 years. Satan ain't down at the local biker bar -- he's got them folk. Satan is hard at work destroying true vocations to the priesthood through evil leaders in the Church. Then on Sundays, the poor parents of the many destroyed vocations of young men, are supposed to pray for vocations to the priesthood??? The day we stopped saying the St. Michael authority prayer after Mass and tossed out the many beautiful statues of Mary standing on the serpent's head, we invited the devil to come into our Church and crack his whip. Enter the likes of intellectual pride and vice never seen before in the Church. Does the devil exist? Well, let's just say, we won't leave that question to our modern day theologians! Welcome to the remnant Church my friends. God doesn't need a giant Church to crush Satan, just a little girl named Mary and some faithful followers of her precious Son, JESUS!

Published by: Phil T
Tennessee, USA 06/07/2008 10:49 PM EST

THANK YOU Fr. Amorth for your consistent and courageous defense of the true Catholic faith!

If any viewers have not read his books, "An Exorcist Tells His Story" and the follow-up, "An Exorcist: More Stories", please get them. Fr. Amorth is truly a treasure of today's Church.

Published by: Mary Ann
Texas USA 06/07/2008 09:58 PM EST

May God bless Fr. Gabriel Amorth. I've read his book on exorcisms, and I believe he is doing the world much good, and the Church an incredible job.

"By their fruits you shall know them"!

Published by: Theresa Lewis
Malone, NY USA 06/07/2008 05:33 PM EST

Thank God for the exorcists and Pope Benedict XVI who are proactive against the growing problem of people giving themselves over to Satan. Oh, yes, he loves to take over his victims and he is prowling about looking for innocents and the misled. God help us now that a new movie OUIJA is on its way to being produced. The numbers of those becoming possessed is growing and this type of movie along with the Harry Potter junk is part of the reason we need exorcists and many more. Each Diocese needs one. Pray Pray Pray for hearts to be open to Jesus.

Published by: Renee Ragona
Surprise Arizona, U.S 06/07/2008 02:41 PM EST

May God continue to protect you Father Gabriele Amorth. I will keep you in my prayers! In these times that we live in we are truly Blessed to have such a worrior for Jesus Christ here to protect us! Thank you and may God Keep you always safe from all harm

Published by: jenchen
Phoenix AZ 06/07/2008 10:11 AM EST

The more evil acts one commits the more demons are allowed to possess you. When you do evil, even a soldier killing in war-like minded demons take possession, that is why certain people become so possessed over time that they go completely insane-such as Bush, and Military Generals. When you do good the opposite occurs and you have guardian angel's protection.

Published by: Terry Washington
UK 06/07/2008 05:11 AM EST

Hmmm- puts me in mind of a Graham Masterton novel I once read- "The Hell Candidate" in which an individual possessed by the devil is elected to the US Presidency!

Published by: Anonymous Freethinker
Australia 06/07/2008 01:22 AM EST

Is my memory playing up, or did the Vatican sign a Concordant with the Nazi party, and Hitler remained a dedicated member of the Church for his entire life? Yet he was possessed by the devil? Interesting... so the Catholic Church was aligned with the devil...

Published by: John
Florida 06/07/2008 12:44 AM EST

Evil is proliferating around the world and I think the Catholic church should do more. Priests should stress this more and encourage praying the Rosary, prayer groups should be established in each parish. We have powerful means at or disposal but much is not put to use.

Published by: goldman
louisville 06/06/2008 07:35 PM EST

I'm Not into politics and I share the notion that George Bush is perfectly possessed as did the late Fr.Malachy Martin. Notice the name "decider" is a typical kind of name one possessed might use.

Published by: Laurens
SanJose 06/06/2008 06:47 PM EST

The devil takes over politicians because they are easy to take over!

Published by: Brian
Indianapolis, IN, USA 06/06/2008 06:03 PM EST

Do you know what the funny thing is? The Nation, itself a left-leaning magazine, published a critical editorial about the Harry Potter series, calling it an overrated pile of fluff. All the more reason to avoid those books.

Published by: Glenn
Connecticut 06/06/2008 05:16 PM EST

I highly recommend both of Father Amorth's books- "An exorcist tells his story" and "An Exorcist-more stories".
Both a full of imformation concerning cobating the devial and the demons including info on posession and oppresion.

Published by: Paul Meyer
West Chester, OH 06/06/2008 05:12 PM EST

I would like to hear Fr Amorth's opinion on leaders who support on demand abortion and those who blindly support them.

Published by: Jeff Johnson
Collegeville, Mn 06/06/2008 02:34 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

I appreciate this article.

His mention of the dangers of magic is, of course scary, especially for young people.

How I wish that everyone in the great Catholic Church would speak up more to defend our children from its presence, especially when it come to iconic trash like Harry Potter.

How many millions of glassy eyed readers have been done harm by those badly written books and the films they have spawned?

Published by: Adriana Dahl
Winnipeg, Mb, Canada 06/06/2008 02:22 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

May Jesus continue to protect you in all that you do for us!
God Bless you

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