Catholics, do you still perform exorcisms? If not, why not, has satan stopped possessing people?

Question

When was the last exorcism done?

Answer 1

posessions are hilarious

the poster above says yes...but i actually watch for and look for news about exorcisms...i havent heard a peep.

exorcisms got popular and all of a sudden there were tons of demons to posess...then they lost popularity and were replaced by stigmata and statues that bled from specific areas, after that followed all the appearances of jesus & mary in toast, on walls and in other absurd places.

im sure in time theyll be back...when the population gets all gung-ho about demons again.

Answer 2

Why do you specifically ask "Catholics" this question? Exorcism is practiced in many different religions, (Hinduism, Judiasm, Islam, Scientology, etc.) not only in the Catholic religion. You hear about it more in the Catholic religion because we don't hide it like other religions do. Also, don't believe all that stuff you see in movies. That's a writer, producer, and director's idea of what an exorcism is.

As for your question has Satan stopped possessing people? No, Satan has not stopped possessing people. Do you remember 9/11? Who do you think is behind that?. Do you really think that Osama Bin Laden is capable of all that hatred and destruction on his own? No! Satan is!

Answer 3

The Vatican Exorcist, Father Amorth, is still in office and still performs exorcisms. They are not done at every parish or anything like that, but there are still priests trained in exorcism. It's not something every priest does...it's a specialty.

According to Father Amorth, we do not have enough exorcists available for people. But if you need one, you can find one through your archdiocese. Yes, they are still performed...I couldn't tell you when the "last one" was done since they are currently being done in all parts of the world and possibly on any day at any time.

Here is a link to an interview with Father Amorth. He also has a book out called An Exorcist Tells His Story
http://www.boston-catholic-journal.com/an_interview_with_father_gabriele_amorth_the_Churchs_leading_exorcist.htm

Answer 4

Greetings. The Catholic Church still performs exorcisms. Please note that not all possessions take the form as those seen in movies. Due to ignorance and some would argue, outside influences, the Church does not perform as many as it used to. Every Catholic diocese should have at least one exorcist. Considering the number of diocese that exist around the world, it may be accurate to assume that exorcisms occur every week or so. I included a link in case you want to read about the Vatican's chief exorcist.

God bless you.

Answer 5

Yes they do. It's only preformed in rare cases by certian priests and they have to request permission to do so.

The Catholic Church revised the Rite of Exorcism in January 1999, although the traditional Rite of Exorcism in Latin is allowed as an option. The act of exorcism is considered to be an incredibly dangerous spiritual task; the ritual assumes that possessed persons retain their free-will, though the demon may hold control over their physical body, and involves prayers, blessings, and invocations with the use of the document Of Exorcisms and Certain Supplications

Answer 6

Yes, but very rarely.

Catholics have been casting out demons ever since Jesus and the Apostles did it.

Modern psychology says that most of the people who had demons cast out of them were probably miraculously cured from schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. But their cures were still miracles.

The Catholic Church believes that real demonic possessions are rare but possible, so they keep a few exorcists around just in case.

The Church has guidelines in place to take great care to exhaust psychological options before calling in an exorcist.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1673: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt4.htm#1673

Anglicanism, several Protestant denominations, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Judaism, Hinduism, Scientology, and Islam also practice some kind of exorcism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorcism

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

I'm not Catholic but I can surely say that they're still done. Anytime we are overcome with the urge to do something that is not of God, we are possessed by an ungodly or demonic spirit. Being possessed doesn't necessarily mean that you're foaming at the mouth and your head is spinning around. We are to always pray that God remove or purge anything from us that is not of Him. That is exorcism. We are using the Holy Spirit to rid ourselves of these demonic spirits.

Answer 8

Yeah, the Church does still perform excorcisms; though rarely. Along with the rest of Humanity, the Church now understands mental illness much better; so the criteria required to cause the Church to perform an excorcism is really pretty extreme. Similar, in scope, to what it takes for the Church to acknowlege a miracle. (i.e. lots & lots of evidence + lacking another potential explanation) Of recent attempts (say, the last fifty years) I don't think one has been performed and considered successful.

The Church also recognizes two occasions and places on the Earth where Satan appeared in material/physical form. One is in Kansas... the other in Rome, I believe.

Answer 9

Actually the answer is yes they are still performed today but the fact is that possessions are more rare than people suppose,demonic `Opression` is much more common today.
I will add a little more regarding this when I have consulted some material I have.

Answer 10

Not only Catholics but Christians in other churches - denominational and non-denominational - perform them as needed. But PLEASE!! If you have need of this service, you must have it done by a competent Christian. Someone who knows what they are doing.
Don't even think of trying this if you are not grounded in scripture.
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
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I Cr 13;8a