Australia: Government Reviews Exorcism Complaint Against Gerard Stoyles, a Catholic Priest

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A Catholic priest who works as a child psychologist said during a radio interview that he provided “consultancy” in the field of exorcisms, and that he has referred two people to exorcists, who he suspected to have more than a psychiatric condition. Now he is being investigated by the government’s health watchdog, the Health Care Complaints Commission, after a complaint was made about this. The complainant said that no one should be subject to exorcism; children with mental health issues do not need to have “so-called evil spirits” driven out of them.
see illawarramercury.com.au/story/4068823/watchdog-to-review-wollongong-priests-involvement-in-exorcisms/?cs=300
 
Huh. A new and interesting tack for attacking religious credibility I hadn’t foreseen.
 
That is so galling.

Exorcism is accepted by many psychiatrists who do not believe in it as valuable, because it is valuable to the patient.

It may be debatable, but the idea that you can come down on this guy for recommending what many shrinks would is beyond what a health regulatory agency should do.
 
I have a feeling that the priest in question will be punished but its hard to say why. If Australia is anything like Canada, patients are likely encouraged to engage in all sorts of practices to help with mental illness. If a patient can be directed towards Yoga or other forms of eastern meditation, why not exorcism? Even if we assume that exorcisms are a bunch of baloney (an assumption I don’t personally share), whose to say there wouldn’t still be benefits? Furthermore, if Australia allows for any type of complementary medicine (e.g., naturopathy), then who is the government to say what kinds non-evidence based practices are acceptible? Why is it OK to perscribe cinamon but not OK to have a prayer session?
 
Another complaint about Catholics brought by the Greens Party.
 
Exactly what I am saying Mac. The spiritual life of a spiritual patient is part of their well-being and normal daily life.
This is totally noncontroversial among therapists I know and have read.
 
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