How do evangelicals perform exorcism?

[archangel04]

So I know that in the Catholic Church only a priest authorized by the local Bishop can perform the Rite of Exorcism, and I know that if a lay person would try to perform the rite on an actual possessed person, they could be endangering both the lives of the non-possess and the possessed. So my question is about protestants/evangelicals? When they “claim” to have perform exorcism how do they do it? I am sure that most of the possessed are people with mental problems, but I am sure that there are some actual cases where minister/preacher performed the so called exorcism and are successful at it. So how can this be if they are not Catholic priest?

 

[Apollos]

How do evangelicals perform exorcism?

They do what Catholics do.

Go figure.

 

[coolduude]

I think in cases like this, God may ‘pardon’ them, even though they’re not Catholic, and grant them an exorcism. If their faith is true faith, and they actually believe in what they’re doing, does it matter if they’re Catholic or not? I doubt it.

 

[palmas855]

I think in cases like this, God may ‘pardon’ them, even though they’re not Catholic, and grant them an exorcism. If their faith is true faith, and they actually believe in what they’re doing, does it matter if they’re Catholic or not? I doubt it.

How exactly do you define true faith?

 

[coolduude]

How exactly do you define true faith?

Faith that they think is true, even if it’s wrong, and they believe it so much that they’ll put their life on the line for it. In other words, they ‘talk the talk and walk the walk’. Hope that makes sense.

 

[palmas855]

Faith that they think is true, even if it’s wrong, and they believe it so much that they’ll put their life on the line for it. In other words, they ‘talk the talk and walk the walk’. Hope that makes sense.

Then by that definition would you say that Islam is definitely true faith?

 

[coolduude]

Then by that definition would you say that Islam is definitely true faith?

No, that’s not what I mean.

In the case you’re talking about, Islam is a true faith for those who believe it is so and will kill themselves for it- as we see on the news ever day. Even though those terrorists are wrong, it is quite evident they think Islam is the Truth (which it isn’t).

It is faith like that (less violent of course, but you catch my drift) that allows evangelicals to perform excorcisms.

 

[palmas855]

No, that’s not what I mean.

In the case you’re talking about, Islam is a true faith for those who believe it is so and will kill themselves for it- as we see on the news ever day. Even though those terrorists are wrong, it is quite evident they think Islam is the Truth (which it isn’t).

It is faith like that (less violent of course, but you catch my drift) that allows evangelicals to perform excorcisms.

What you said was the following
Faith that they think is true, even if it’s wrong, and they believe it so much that they’ll put their life on the line for it. In other words, they ‘talk the talk and walk the walk’. Hope that makes sense.

By that statement I have to infer that Islam must be true faith for them because they will die for it. I don’t think that in and of itself qualifies as true faith.

The Catholic Church is the only true Church andthe one true faith. All others are defective.

As to evangelicals performing exorcisms, I don’t believe that they do. They pretend to do them and it makes real good theater, but they are not real. Just watch when the do them It is all done in public, with plenty of witnesses and they are always successful in a very short period of time, usually a matter of minutes.

On the other hand true exprcisms can take weeks, months even and would not make for good viewing.

I will never believe that the hucksters who perform their miracles on demand on TV, or under the big tent or in the auditoriums, are any more than charlatains and thieves, taking advantage of the peoples burning need to believe in something…

 

[Like]

The Catholic Church is the only true Church and the one true faith. All others are defective.
Amen

As to evangelicals performing exorcisms, I don’t believe that they do. They pretend to do them and it makes real good theater, but they are not real. Just watch when the do them It is all done in public, with plenty of witnesses and they are always successful in a very short period of time, usually a matter of minutes.

On the other hand true exprcisms can take weeks, months even and would not make for good viewing.

I will never believe that the hucksters who perform their miracles on demand on TV, or under the big tent or in the auditoriums, are any more than charlatains and thieves, taking advantage of the peoples burning need to believe in something…

Yeah, some people are so gullible.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Christ gave all of us the power to banish demons. He told us anyone who has been baptized and believes, can cast out demons in his name. That will include Protestants too! We are also told that if they are not against Christ, then they are for Him.

All priests are authorized and encouraged to perform exorcisms. Our Baptismal Rite includes an exorcism. The authorization from the bishop is only needed for a formal or class 1 exorcism. The difference between a Roman Catholic priest’s exorcism and that of a Protestant Minister, is that the priest has the backing of the entire church.

 

[palmas855]

Christ gave all of us the power to banish demons. He told us anyone who has been baptized and believes, can cast out demons in his name. That will include Protestants too! We are also told that if they are not against Christ, then they are for Him.

All priests are authorized and encouraged to perform exorcisms. Our Baptismal Rite includes an exorcism. The authorization from the bishop is only needed for a formal or class 1 exorcism. The difference between a Roman Catholic priest’s exorcism and that of a Protestant Minister, is that the priest has the backing of the entire church.

The Priest has the authority given to him by the Bishop. That authority does not extend to us. I know that the protestants believe we all have this power, but then again they don’t have Priests or true Bishops either. So by extension if they believe that demons have to be cast out they will normally believe that anyone baptized can do it., However, that has never been the teaching of the Catholic Church.

 

[dconklin]

Then by that definition would you say that Islam is definitely true faith?

True faith? That sounds a little like an oxymoron. Truths can be proved. Faith is something that cannot be scientifically proved.

Now with Islam and even Judaism, we cannot say that their faith is true or not. Many of our beliefs come from our Jewish brethren. Jesus was a Jew. The Koran speaks very highly of Jesus and Mary. See this: ewtn.com/library/SCRIPTUR/ZKORAN.HTM Here is a specific quote: “Most importantly, in Chapter 4, Verse 171, the Koran presents Jesus, the son of Mary, as the Messiah, as God’s messenger; Jesus is seen as a word of God which he cast into Mary, and a spirit from him, who is nevertheless, in God’s sight like Adam, a creature — according to Chapter 3, Verse 59.” There are other parts that are not inline with what we believe. But their beliefs cannot be shown to be totally true or untrue. They are just beliefs.

 

[Robert_Burns]

So I know that in the Catholic Church only a priest authorized by the local Bishop can perform the Rite of Exorcism, and I know that if a lay person would try to perform the rite on an actual possessed person, they could be endangering both the lives of the non-possess and the possessed. So my question is about protestants/evangelicals? When they “claim” to have perform exorcism how do they do it? I am sure that most of the possessed are people with mental problems, but I am sure that there are some actual cases where minister/preacher performed the so called exorcism and are successful at it. So how can this be if they are not Catholic priest?

But doesnt Scripture Say in Matthew 7 : 21 *Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father, who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, *and cast out devils in thy name, and done many wonderful works in thy name?

23 And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you: *depart from me, you that work iniquity.

So , therefore , even if they can cast out Devils in the Name of the Lord are they doing the Will of GOD? Our Lords words indicate , not necessarily so.

Pax

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

Christ gave all of us the power to banish demons. He told us anyone who has been baptized and believes, can cast out demons in his name. That will include Protestants too! We are also told that if they are not against Christ, then they are for Him.

All priests are authorized and encouraged to perform exorcisms. Our Baptismal Rite includes an exorcism. The authorization from the bishop is only needed for a formal or class 1 exorcism. The difference between a Roman Catholic priest’s exorcism and that of a Protestant Minister, is that the priest has the backing of the entire church.

Here we run up against a terminology that is not sufficiently standardized, causing disagreements among those who might mean the same thing. For instance, Fr. Amorth, one of our most prominent modern exorcists, rejects distinctions among exorcisms and says, basically, “Using the official rite of exorcism from the Ritual with the authorization of the bishop is the only thing that deserves the term.” Thus he often refers to his diagnostic and lower-level work as “blessings;” still, in other parts of his writing he routinely calls these exorcisms as well, a turn of phrase he explicitly rejected. So maybe we should avoid using the word “exorcism” in sketching the landscape.

1. Any baptized Catholic can pray for deliverance from demonic influence; I might even go so far to say they can command spirits, in Jesus’ name, to depart. These are always, however, private prayers. A priest who is not deputed to use the Rite of Exorcism also can expel demons in this way, through his private prayer, though Fr. Amorth considers it likely more powerful* than a layman’s prayer because the priest possesses a ministerial and not simply baptismal priesthood.
2. With a delegation from the bishop, a priest may expel demons using the Rite of Exorcism. This is the most powerful form of exorcism because it commands demons with the authority of the Church, and thus of Her Head.
3. The fact that other individuals do not follow Christ faithfully does not prevent them from casting out demons in His name. We know this on Christ’s own testimony.

Mark 9:37-38: "John answered him, saying: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, who followeth not us, and we forbade him. But Jesus said: Do not forbid him. For there is no man that doth a miracle in my name, and can soon speak ill of me.

Matt 7:22-23: “Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.”

 

[MtnDwellar]

The Priest has the authority given to him by the Bishop. That authority does not extend to us. I know that the protestants believe we all have this power, but then again they don’t have Priests or true Bishops either. So by extension if they believe that demons have to be cast out they will normally believe that anyone baptized can do it., However, that has never been the teaching of the Catholic Church.

I don’t know exactly what constitutes official Catholic teaching on this subject. I do know that Catholic exorcist, Fr. Gabriele Amorth agrees with me. Fr. Armoth says that a Catholic lay person can perform an exorcism, and that “it is obvious that not only Catholics, but everyone who believes in Christ has the power to expel demons” (Armoth. G. , 1999, Page 173).

Can you offer a Catholic reference that teaches away from lay people performing exorcisms?

I personally cast the demons out of my friends and relatives homes whenever I am invited in. I must state that ever since I started doing this, not one of them has seen neither hide nor hair of a demon.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Here we run up against a terminology that is not sufficiently standardized, causing disagreements among those who might mean the same thing. For instance, Fr. Amorth, one of our most prominent modern exorcists, rejects distinctions among exorcisms and says, basically, “Using the official rite of exorcism from the Ritual with the authorization of the bishop is the only thing that deserves the term.” Thus he often refers to his diagnostic and lower-level work as “blessings;” still, in other parts of his writing he routinely calls these exorcisms as well, a turn of phrase he explicitly rejected. So maybe we should avoid using the word “exorcism” in sketching the landscape.

1. Any baptized Catholic can pray for deliverance from demonic influence; I might even go so far to say they can command spirits, in Jesus’ name, to depart. These are always, however, private prayers. A priest who is not deputed to use the Rite of Exorcism also can expel demons in this way, through his private prayer, though Fr. Amorth considers it likely more powerful* than a layman’s prayer because the priest possesses a ministerial and not simply baptismal priesthood.
2. With a delegation from the bishop, a priest may expel demons using the Rite of Exorcism. This is the most powerful form of exorcism because it commands demons with the authority of the Church, and thus of Her Head.
3. The fact that other individuals do not follow Christ faithfully does not prevent them from casting out demons in His name. We know this on Christ’s own testimony.

Mark 9:37-38: "John answered him, saying: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, who followeth not us, and we forbade him. But Jesus said: Do not forbid him. For there is no man that doth a miracle in my name, and can soon speak ill of me.

Matt 7:22-23: “Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.”

I agree with everything that you wrote. There is a formal Rite of Exorcism which can only be used by qualified exorcists.

The delegation from the bishop is bit sketchy. I heard an interview where the exorcist said that in the beginning of his career, the bishop was always involved. After the exorcist became experienced, the bishop let the exorcist make his own determinations.

 

[palmas855]

True faith? That sounds a little like an oxymoron. Truths can be proved. Faith is something that cannot be scientifically proved.

Now with Islam and even Judaism, we cannot say that their faith is true or not. Many of our beliefs come from our Jewish brethren. Jesus was a Jew. The Koran speaks very highly of Jesus and Mary. See this: ewtn.com/library/SCRIPTUR/ZKORAN.HTM Here is a specific quote: “Most importantly, in Chapter 4, Verse 171, the Koran presents Jesus, the son of Mary, as the Messiah, as God’s messenger; Jesus is seen as a word of God which he cast into Mary, and a spirit from him, who is nevertheless, in God’s sight like Adam, a creature — according to Chapter 3, Verse 59.” There are other parts that are not inline with what we believe. But their beliefs cannot be shown to be totally true or untrue. They are just beliefs.

Then by extension the beliefs of the Catholic Church are only beliefs as well, correct? I mean after all you cannot prove them to be otherwise. You cannot by your argument you cannot show that Catholic beliefs are true or untrue either.

It seems to me that it is a very slippery slope you are walking on.

 

[Big_Dummy]

The same way the apostles did in the gospels and book of Acts.

 

[RBK]

So I know that in the Catholic Church only a priest authorized by the local Bishop can perform the Rite of Exorcism, and I know that if a lay person would try to perform the rite on an actual possessed person, they could be endangering both the lives of the non-possess and the possessed. So my question is about protestants/evangelicals? When they “claim” to have perform exorcism how do they do it? I am sure that most of the possessed are people with mental problems, but I am sure that there are some actual cases where minister/preacher performed the so called exorcism and are successful at it. So how can this be if they are not Catholic priest?

I am reading Fr. Thomas Euteneuer’s book Exorcism and the Church Militant right now. (And I do not recommend reading it before you go to bed!) Anyway, he addresses this question, “Can Protestants do exorcisms?”

He writes, “Catholicism teaches that the Protestant churches and denominations share elements of the truth Faith and worship of Jesus Christ with our Church. Their union to us through baptism and true faith in Christ can be used against demons effectively. They do not conduct solemn exorcisms as we define them, but there are many Protestants whose deliverance ministries are effective in delivering souls from the power of evil, not because their churches share in the Apostolic Succession, but because they are authentic men and women of faith. In all warfare, spiritual or otherwise, what matters most is the potency of the weaponry and the faith with which it is used. The Catholic Church has the greatest power over evil because it has the greatest weaponry and wisdom of the ages passed down in the ritual and practice of exorcism; nevertheless, others with lesser weaponry, but great faith, can also drive out demons.”

In another section he answers the question, “May a lay person ever perform a solemn exorcism?” Fr. Euteneuer answers, " According to the current norms of the Catholic Church, it is not possible for a lay person to perform a solemn exorcism. That is strictly limited to priests. The solemn Rite of Exorcism must be distinguished from the spontaneous prayer of blessing and/or petition which seeks to free someone who is not possessed but who may have diabolic problems of one sort or another. The Church has always distinguished between a private act of blessing, whereby a person prays on behalf of his or her own faith, and a public act, whereby the person prays on behalf of the Church. All Christians exercise a certain power over the devil by virtue of their baptism. As we have been delivered from the power of darkness, so the spiritual power to bless and combat the works of the devil is inherent in the priesthood of the faithful. Such an authority is acknowledged by the Lord’s Prayer when we pray, ‘Deliver us from evil.’ "