Exorcism claim has church looking for help

Rene Laprise, of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said dioceses normally have a priest designated to investigate the claims of demonic possession. (Shutterstock)

CALGARY - Calgary’s Catholic diocese is working in mysterious ways with counterparts in Saskatoon who don’t have the means to investigate claims of demonic possession.
A Catholic priest in Saskatoon attended to one man who had carved the word “Hell” on his chest last month.
According to a CBC report, the man addressed the priest in a strange voice saying, “He belongs to me. Get out of here.”
The priest blessed the man, called police and took the case back to his diocese.
Citing new regulations for the rite of casting out demons, issued by the late Pope John Paul in 1999, Bishop Don Bolen confirmed they have had to reach out to Calgary for help to discern between mental health-related cases and those that may be real-deal devil tampering.
“Firstly, in the Christian scriptures, in Jesus’ ministry there were exorcisms, and so it is not something that we can lightly dismiss,” he said in a statement.
“Secondly, today we rightly look to psychology and to medicine to bring healing to the complicated things that go on in the human mind and to assist those in mental distress.
“The Church recognizes the importance of this as an important response, while acknowledging there is much in human life that we do not understand.”
The group they have turned to is the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary and their shadowy Spiritual Discernment Commission, whose membership and activities are closely guarded.
Diane Jackman, the secretary of Bishop Fred Henry, the highest Catholic authority in Calgary, said it was diocesan policy to not comment on the commission.
Such secrecy surrounding the Church and demonic possession investigations shouldn’t surprise anyone, said Dr. Steven Engler, a professor of religious studies at Mount Royal University.
“In many churches, such as Pentecostal churches, exorcisms are public. They are open. They are in a sense a public good,” said Engler, adding the Catholics take a very different approach.
“Exorcisms are private and internal in the church because of the nature of the phenomenon, because of the sensitivity and of course out of respect for the people involved.”
Rene Laprise, of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said dioceses normally have a priest designated to investigate the claims of demonic possession.
“I’ve been in the diocese for many years and I know that kind of call, from people who think they are possessed or need an exorcism,” he said.
“It happens sometimes. It’s not every day, not every week, but a few times a year.”
Laprise said he would look into the Saskatoon case, but later said there likely won’t be any further comment to the media.