those crazy catholics! - ZEFRANK.COM

craig johnston · 02-17-2005, 09:44 AM

Vatican offers exorcism lessons
By Mark Duff
BBC News, Milan

A two-month course is being offered at the university
The Vatican university is launching a new course for exorcists - Roman Catholic priests who cast out evil spirits from the possessed.

Lessons at the prestigious Athenaeum Pontificium Regina Apostolorum will include the history of Satanism and its context in the Bible.

Practical lessons in psychology and the law will also feature.

Concern is high in Italy about the influence of Satanic cults - especially among the young and impressionable.

And there will also be seminars at the Athenaeum, or Upra as it is known, on the spiritual, liturgical and pastoral work involved in being an exorcist.

The ideal exorcist

Father Giulio Savoldi has been Milan's official exorcist for more than 20 years.

He did not have the benefit of training but is in no doubt about what he would include in any course for candidates to take on the task of fighting evil in the raw - and the qualities needed of any would-be exorcist.

"I would include the supernatural force - the presence of God - and then suggest that the man picked to do this kind of work be wise and that he should know how to gather strength not just from within himself but from God," he says.

"Because each case of possession is different, each person possessed is different. Those studying to become exorcists should also study psychology and know how to distinguish between a mental illness and a possession.

"And - finally - they need to be very patient."

Next week - in a case that has captured the public imagination - a court outside Milan is due to consider murder charges against a group of young people accused of killing two teenagers as part of a Satanic rite.

For Father Savoldi, the case just confirms his belief in the power of evil to make the most of human weakness.

LaiChi · 02-17-2005, 10:30 AM

Sounds positively Father Ted-esque to me!

zenbabe · 02-19-2005, 11:41 PM

Do they have a class on teaching priests how to keep it in their pants?

Smartypants · 02-20-2005, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenbabe

Do they have a class on teaching priests how to keep it in their pants?

Introduction to Snake Handling

Frieda · 02-21-2005, 12:05 AM

craig johnston · 02-21-2005, 07:58 PM

wow! from exorcism to hoff in four moves!

Smartypants · 02-21-2005, 08:13 PM

It's the "Those Crazy Catholics Caption Thread!!"

"I know you told me to keep my snake in my pants, your Holiness. I'm tryin', man, I'm tryin'!!"

craig johnston · 02-21-2005, 08:28 PM

aaaah, NOW i can see you!

Aphrodite · 02-25-2005, 01:27 AM

His new book is out.

Pope's new book

craig johnston · 02-25-2005, 09:21 AM

rational? logical? aaargh! i'm not listening!

02-17-2005, 09:44 AM	#1
craig johnston dalai clique Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: tea leaf towers - home of fine musical entertainment Posts: 5,609	those crazy catholics! Vatican offers exorcism lessons By Mark Duff BBC News, Milan A two-month course is being offered at the university The Vatican university is launching a new course for exorcists - Roman Catholic priests who cast out evil spirits from the possessed. Lessons at the prestigious Athenaeum Pontificium Regina Apostolorum will include the history of Satanism and its context in the Bible. Practical lessons in psychology and the law will also feature. Concern is high in Italy about the influence of Satanic cults - especially among the young and impressionable. And there will also be seminars at the Athenaeum, or Upra as it is known, on the spiritual, liturgical and pastoral work involved in being an exorcist. The ideal exorcist Father Giulio Savoldi has been Milan's official exorcist for more than 20 years. He did not have the benefit of training but is in no doubt about what he would include in any course for candidates to take on the task of fighting evil in the raw - and the qualities needed of any would-be exorcist. "I would include the supernatural force - the presence of God - and then suggest that the man picked to do this kind of work be wise and that he should know how to gather strength not just from within himself but from God," he says. "Because each case of possession is different, each person possessed is different. Those studying to become exorcists should also study psychology and know how to distinguish between a mental illness and a possession. "And - finally - they need to be very patient." Next week - in a case that has captured the public imagination - a court outside Milan is due to consider murder charges against a group of young people accused of killing two teenagers as part of a Satanic rite. For Father Savoldi, the case just confirms his belief in the power of evil to make the most of human weakness. __________________ the tea leaf family

02-19-2005, 11:41 PM	#3
zenbabe Lollypop! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: we are all made of stars Posts: 11,690	Do they have a class on teaching priests how to keep it in their pants? __________________ Be yourself, because the people that mind don't matter, and the people that matter don't mind. -Dr. Seuss

02-21-2005, 12:05 AM	#5
Frieda in limbo Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 19,506	__________________ zoek waar je wil, maar het zit in jezelf oh yeah

02-21-2005, 07:58 PM	#6
craig johnston dalai clique Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: tea leaf towers - home of fine musical entertainment Posts: 5,609	wow! from exorcism to hoff in four moves! __________________ the tea leaf family

02-21-2005, 08:13 PM	#7
Smartypants MR. Smartypants to you. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Oh, YOU PEOPLE go ahead and call it "Frisco." See if I care. Posts: 3,967	It's the "Those Crazy Catholics Caption Thread!!" "I know you told me to keep my snake in my pants, your Holiness. I'm tryin', man, I'm tryin'!!" __________________ "I don't think God wants us to believe in him. If he wanted us to believe in him he'd do something about it -- like exist perhaps!" --Linda Smith

02-17-2005, 10:30 AM	#2
LaiChi Curiouser and curiouser.. Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Neither here nor there Posts: 3	Sounds positively Father Ted-esque to me!

02-21-2005, 08:28 PM	#8
craig johnston dalai clique Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: tea leaf towers - home of fine musical entertainment Posts: 5,609	aaaah, NOW i can see you! __________________ the tea leaf family

02-25-2005, 01:27 AM	#9
Aphrodite Myth Demeanour Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: My tent Posts: 3,041	His new book is out. Pope's new book __________________ Monkey on the Halfshell

02-25-2005, 09:21 AM	#10
craig johnston dalai clique Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: tea leaf towers - home of fine musical entertainment Posts: 5,609	rational? logical? aaargh! i'm not listening! __________________ the tea leaf family

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