Exorcism Centre To Open in Poland

After receiving approval from the Catholic Church, a new centre is scheduled to be opened in the Polish town of Poczernin near the German border to provide exorcisms for those believing themselves to be possessed. Andrzej Trojanowski, an academic chaplain who has been working in the nearby town of Szczeczin for the past five years, will be directing the centre. Father Trojanowski is reported to have dealt with twenty cases a week in his former position. While there are currently fifty exorcists operating in Poland, the centre will be the first of its kind in that country. The new centre is also expected to draw potential clients from Germany due to the lack of exorcists in that country. Reports indicate that the centre will be built as a retreat house with a chapel, guest rooms and clinical facilities for the psychiatrist who has been working with Father Trojanowski.

After a long decline throughout most of the twentieth century, demand for exorcisms began to make a comeback in the 1960s (partially spurred by movies such as The Exorcist). Demonic possession remains firmly entrenched in Catholic doctrine with a revised ritual for exorcism being issued in 1999. Under Canon law, only ordained priests may perform exorcisms with permission from the local bishop and after careful examination to rule out the possibility of mental illness. Exorcisms remain a common practice in many religions across the world and continue to be carried out despite cases of forced exorcisms and exorcism-related deaths.

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Comments

[Alison Hymes]

One of Virginia's legislators believes mental illness is caused by possession, maybe we can get a state operated exorcism center here. And hey, since when is the fact that a procedure has been forced and caused death a reason not to use it? We're going to kill lots of folks with forced drugging in Virginia starting in July, 2008... :) or maybe (:

[Romeo Vitelli]

Of course, it might be simpler still just to charge the demons with possession. Serving a subpoena might be tricky though.

[Dr X]

A few years ago, I was surprised to learn that a full-time excorcist was appointed in the R.C. Archdiocese of Chicago, while New York had four.

http://tinyurl.com/38zbmv

[Alison Hymes]

Might be tricky, but it would be cheaper, and cheaper goes over well in the Virginia legislature...I know, we can try the demon(s) in absentia, it won't be much different than our commitment hearings are now...heck, even our criminal trials for folks who don't have the money for their own lawyer...

[Romeo Vitelli]

There was actually a court case in Pennsylvania in 1971 where a plaintiff tried to sue Satan for damages due to injuries that Satan had allegedly caused him. One of the points that the court raised in dismissing the case was that it was unclear whether the court had jurisdiction. In any event, possession is a criminal charge and that was a civil trial.