Number of exorcisms on the rise on Australia's Gold Coast

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Brisbane, Australia, Feb 19, 2008 / 01:26 am (CNA).- Increased interest in Satanism and the occult has led to a rise in exorcisms in the Australian state of Queensland, the Courier Mail reports.

One priest who asked not to be identified said he presently carried out exorcisms at least once every two weeks.

"Being possessed by a demon is terrifying in one's mental and emotional life," he said to the Courier Mail. "Some of these manifestations are extremely powerful, causing people to be plagued by disturbances. They hear voices and see hideous creatures in their sleep.

"There has been a recruitment of pagan practices, and it's sheer poison.”

The priest said the Gold Coast area of the state, which is in southeastern Queensland, had far more exorcisms than Brisbane, the state capital.

Bishop Brian Finnigan, acting head of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, said it was important for the Church to carry out exorcisms.

"People need to be freed of that burden," he said, according to the Courier Mail.
Father Gabriele Amorth, a chief exorcist in Rome, is considering plans to have in each diocese a group of priests who are trained in exorcism.

"Too many bishops are not taking this seriously and are not delegating their priests in the fight against the devil. You have to hunt high and low for a proper, trained exorcist," Father Amorth said, according to the Courier Mail.

Priests in Queensland can only carry out an exorcism with the permission of the bishop. The priest who spoke to the Courier Mail said he was the only authorized exorcist in the state.

"We are not very plentiful and certainly need more of us to cope with the big occult following that is emerging today," he said.

"It's frightening what can happen when you invite entities into your life which are not meant to be part of God's world."
The priest claimed one woman he had met had been afflicted by demonic manifestations since taking part in a playground witch game as a child.

Comments: 5

Subscriber comments:

Published by: anne
Victoria-Australia 07/18/2009 06:22 AM EST

Degrees of diabolic influence.
1) OPPRESSION: this occurs when a person experiences an inner darkness arising from influence of an evil spirit acting from outside of him.
2) OBSESSION. This refers to a deeper influence by an evil spirit, who has gained a foothold within the human spirit so that one or more areas of a person's life ar really under his control.
3) POSSESSION. This occurs when an evil spirit (a devil) is in full control of a person's spirit, it is the state in which the person is a completely helpless object of demonic use of his sensory faculties, while his freedom is nearly or totally suspended.
OPPRESSION can be overcome any Christian and is equivalent to diabolicical temptation, an attempt to scare or disturb.

Published by: Stuart James
Australia 10/29/2008 01:32 AM EST

I want to have a demon exorcism. I sometimes wonder whether there is something spiritually wrong with me, i'm not a religious person but i have dwelled in ouiji board experiences and im consumed with anger, anxiety and emptiness alot of the time. I dont even know whether i believe in this but it surely can hurt to try. Im a very loving person, but after reading about The Jezebel Spirit i wonder whether my love could just be a cry for attention and a way of controlling people. I like to think i'm loving but perhaps it could be selfish love. The fact that i perform in a band Requiem of the Damned would emphasize this point.
Are there any one in Australia, NSW preferably around Newcastle that practices any forms of spiritual healing?

Published by: Evelyn
ND 02/20/2008 08:57 PM EST

Thank heavens the church is again seeing the importance of this ministry which is again and again commanded by Christ in the Gospels. So many people suffer a long time and go from doctor to doctor and spend major amounts of money that does no good.Praise the Lord !!

Published by: Cypher Grey
Brisbane 02/20/2008 01:51 AM EST

"Demonic possession" is medieval English for "mental illness."

Priests are providing a placebo cure for their believers, which is fine by me - if a cure works by doing less harm than the ailment, then it's a good cure.

But please don't confuse supposed demonic possession with occult practice, especially when a large number of "possessed" are actually highly devout people, especially when your information about occult practice is severely misguided and incorrect.

Published by: Agnes
Florida 02/19/2008 01:33 PM EST

ARE BORN OUT OF THE CULTURE OF DEATH, FROM:

ABORTION, EDUCATION IN SEXUALISM AND IMMORALITY AND ALL ITS PROMOTION, EUTHANASIA, ANTI-CATHOLICISM AND PAGANISM.

THAT IS THE PRIZE FOR NOT EDUCATING IN THE FAITH, IN CHRISTIAN VALUES, IN LOVE OF THE CHURCH AND ITS TEACHINGS AND THE OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL AND THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE CHURCH.

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