The Horror of Rome
It’s exciting to learn that there is such a thing as the Chief Exorcist of Rome and that he has such stimulating beliefs.
Those modern theologians who identify Satan with the abstract idea of evil are completely mistaken. Theirs is true heresy; that is, it is openly in contrast with the Bible, the Fathers, and the Magisterium of the Church…How can those who deny the existence and the many activities of Satan understand the achievements of Christ? How can they understand the value of the redemptive death of Christ?
Oh right, the Magisterium – that’s that non-overlapping one that Steve Gould told us about. Science has its, and religion has its, and in the latter, Satan is a real fella. Because it’s a separate Magisterium, science and related ways of thinking don’t get to say ‘Gee, what a lot of bullshit.’ No, the Catholic Church gets to terrify as many unhappy people as believe that bullshit – yet the rest of us are supposed to be respectfully quiet because religion is so consoling. Satan is consoling? Ask someone who agrees with Father Gabriele Amorth how consoling Satan is.
[T]here is no doubt that Satan’s power is felt more keenly in periods of history when the sinfulness of the community is more evident. For example, when I view the decadence of the Roman Empire, I can see the moral disintegration of that period in history. Now we are at the same level of decadence, partly as a result of the misuse of the mass media (which are not evil in themselves) and partly because of Western consumerism and materialism, which have poisoned our society.
Cool, the Exorcist and Madeleine Bunting join hands. Consumerism, materialism, decadence, Satan’s power is felt more keenly. Interesting that the Exorcist thinks consumerism and materialism are the most noteworthy examples of moral disintegration in the world today – but then the Catholic Church never has given much of a shit about cruelty. Too busy inflicting it, most of the time.
I will mention one more item on this subject. Just as it would be wrong to deny the existence of Satan, it is also wrong to accept the prevalent opinion that there are spiritual beings that are not mentioned in the Bible. These are the invention of spiritists, of followers of the occult, of those who espouse reincarnation, or of those who believe in “wandering souls”. There are no good spirits other than angels; there are no evil spirits other than demons.
Ah. And you know this how? Two Councils of the Church done said so. Okay…
Some people marvel at the ability of demons to tempt man and even to own the body (but they can never take the soul unless man freely gives it to them) through possession and oppression. We should remember what is written in Revelation –
We should remember what is written in the phone book. But never mind my little jokes – this is not just bullshit, it’s foul, cruel, mind-torturing bullshit. It frightens people and it makes them think they are evil. As Johann said, this isn’t love. This is nasty, bad, harmful stuff, and the Vatican should be ashamed of itself. It never is, but it should be.
‘There are no good spirits other than angels; there are no evil spirits other than demons’.
This sounds like information about an economy version of ‘Dungeons & Dragons’, not the words of a supposed ‘authority figure’.
It would certainly be interesting to find out what percentage of “exorcisms” are performed on women. It certainly seems like every time an “exorcism” story hits the news, it’s a woman who’s chock full of those nasty demons. Another instance of the misogyny of religion?
I was reading that article on the main page and had to google to check that this guy really was an authorised honcho and not a random nutter with a mail-order exorcist licence.
Seems to be the actual chief exorcist of Vatican City. Does that mean he out-ranks Giles?
Conversation stopper, “What do you do for a living?” “I’m an exorcist”. Well, it would be a darn sight easier to explain that, than what I do as bio-archaeologist.
What do you do as a bio-archaeologist, David? Do you perhaps have a website about your research you could point me to?
That would be ever so much more interesting and enlightening than attending to the demented ravings of rabid godbotherers who (1) believe in angels and demons, and (2) use magical words and substances (holy water and blessed oils, don’tcha know) to battle the latter. *sigh*
At least when I invent a fantasy world whole cloth, I come up with a metaphysics that makes sense!
Oh, and I don’t confuse it with the real world. That’s important.
I’ll bet they’ve got a “comfy chair” and a “soft cushion” hidden away somewhere, for special occasions…
When I was looking up the ‘net (to see what the percentage of women might be who undergo exorcisms) I came across the following:
A poll taken in 2005 shows that sixty-eight percent of Americans believe in the devil, including fifty-five percent of people with postgraduate degrees.
Also:
And the Vatican has been receiving an onslaught of global media attention over the last year, ever since one of their most prestigious colleges, the Aethenaum Pontificum Regina Apostolorum, began offering classes in “Exorcism and the Prayer of Liberation.”
Also the author of ‘The Road Less Travelled’ has a lot to say about the subject- having performed exorcism on two (yes) women.
I know, that poll is scary. And the percentages aren’t vastly lower in other countries, including ones that are apparently much more secular than the US. They’re lower, but not as much lower as you might think.
The Pope can do anything he wants to, as per the massive open cheque given St Peter (and his successors, according to Church tradition) in Mathew 16: 18-19, in which Christ says to Peter, ‘the Rock’: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
This enabled Pope Pius XII to proclaim Mary as Queen of Heaven in 1954. (The relevant encyclical is Ad Caeli Reginam.)
Adolph Hitler was born a Catholic, was baptised, and was never excommunicated. It is possible therefore that some time in 1944, between saying goodbye to his loyal Nazi supporters in the Fuhrerbunker in Berlin, closing the door to his office and blowing his own brains out, Hitler made his Catholic peace with God. After some time in Purgatory he would have qualified for entry to Heaven, and may be up there frolicking about, harp in hand, even as you read this.
It would seem to me therefore that just to be on the safe side, and using the power granted him by the above open cheque, the Pope could order a squad of angels to haul Hitler out of Heaven, have them kick open the non-prevailing gates of Hell, and have them chuck Hitler well and truly in.
In my considered theological opinion, hauling devils out of a person possessed by them is child’s play for someone with the power to make new arrangements in Heaven and Hell.
However, given that he is a former member of the Hitler Youth, the present occupant of St Peter’s throne might be a bit reluctant to do it.
Suicide: Roman Catholic Church Teaching.
2280 Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a5.htm
“In earlier times a person who committed suicide would often be denied funeral rites and even burial in a Church cemetery. However, some consideration has always been taken into account of the person’s mental state at the time.”
http://www.zenit.org/article-14559?l=english
On a related note.
Physician assisted suicide: The church opposes all suicide, whether it is performed by an individual alone or with the help of their physician. They teach that all human life must be protected, from conception to natural death. A person has no right to terminate their life, even if they are in intractable, untreatable pain from a terminal illness.
Gallup Poll. 2007 See: “Doctor-assisted suicide”.
http://www.pollingreport.com/values.htm
“up there frolicking about, harp in hand, even as you read this.”
‘Die Himmel rühmen des ewigen Ehren’! –
Hoffentlich, der Führer ist nicht daroben, tanzen und spielen ‘Lied der Panzergrenadiere’ und ‘Himmel Über Alles’ auf einem Irischen harp!
Marie Therese: Greetings.
Hitler, as I said, would no doubt have to work off the sin of his suicide with a stint in Purgatory, possibly though having purged his soul of all other guilt via confession and repentance before God a few moments before doing himself in. (A priest was not available in the bunker for counsel, confession or last rites.)
Thus it is conceivable that Hitler made it to Heaven, and to cover that possibility the Pope could excommunicate him post mortem, and issue an encyclical to the effect that if he was through bureaucratic oversight admitted to Heaven, or found by the angels to be there, Hitler is to be forthwith expelled and consigned to Hell for eternity.
It would be quite a simple procedure, given the power conferred on the Pope by Christ himself.
[Also whilen onn itt, playen das Irischen harpen in Himmel ist verboten! Und also das pipes gerbaggen und whistlen tinnen!]
Das ist sehr shade, und fur mich (selber) zu hören keine gemütlichkeit – Ja, also, Ich habe immer Gewußt das unsere Irishe musikalische Heimat war ganz oben in die himmel! Traditionelle geigenspiel, akkordeon, gitarren,und etwas besonders sind auch veilleicht verboten?
Heck….I “believe” in “the Devil.” From reading the Bible, though, his proper name is “Jehovah” or “Yahweh,” not Lucifer.