Seeing an exorcist

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That presupposing that the Psychiatrist has no concept of the difference between mental and spiritual themselves šŸ¤”

How insulting.
 
I meant a secular psychiatrist, I have edited my post as such.
 
Raises the question in turn as to whether the ā€˜secularā€™ psychiatrists Iā€™ve met in the past; who recalled skepticism about their atheism after various ā€˜experiencesā€™; arent representative of a bizarre entry method into faith šŸ¤”

Either way. I missed the correction and have several university colleagues from that neck of the woods. Ty šŸ‘
 
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Ummā€¦no we donā€™t. Iā€™m not a psychologist, certainly not a psychiatrist. I would be wholly unqualified to make such a determination. Iā€™ve known one priest who would have been qualified, but he was a licensed clinical psychologist with his doctorate in the field.

Priests are most certainly NOT qualified to do this.
 
OK. Will correct.

Then whatā€™s the correct course of action in this situation?
 
Hard to say without knowing more details. But, Iā€™d stick with my first three recommendations:
  1. Mass and Eucharist
  2. Regular confession
  3. Daily prayer
Iā€™ll pray with anyone that asks, and offer spiritual guidance to anyone that asks. Beyond that, if the person still isnā€™t getting any better, they need to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. But Iā€™m not qualified to determine if and when a person needs treatment from a mental health professional. Only a person trained in that discipline is qualified to make such a determination.

Basically, Iā€™d follow this progression:
  1. Simple spiritual remedies (prayer and sacraments)
  2. More intense spiritual remedies (deliverance ministry)
  3. Psychological remedies
  4. Much more intense spiritual remedies
 
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And weā€™re at the point of needing more intense spiritual remedies with deliverance ministries. All 3 recommendations have been met regularly.

Peace.

+JMJ+
 
You cannot make that determination. Itā€™s for the professionals.
 
jmj777 said:
Thank you all for your responses. We will go to our pastor first and go from there. Initially, I didnā€™t believe he would take this seriously, but I now understand that we need to follow the chain of command and the necessary protocols.

Peace.

+JMJ+
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There is no chain of command. If you feel that your pastor will not take you seriously, there is no point going there. Been there done that, disheartening and delayed with significant spiritual detriment of a family member in need.

Please phone the secretary of your diocese, state that you have a preternatural concern and ask to have contact with the diocese exorcist. Now most times there is a lay person that work alongside the exorcist and if so you may be referred to to that person first.

Pax Christi
THT
 
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po18guy said:
Notice that in each and every case in scripture, someone else had to seek help for the possessed person. A possessed person is not allowed to do this, as the demon is in charge
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No one asked Jesus to cast out the demon from the man in the synagogue. No one asked Him when the demons were sent into the swine. In Lukeā€™s Gospel demons were coming out of people in a crowd.

I donā€™t think the OP has claimed that heā€™s possessed. I donā€™t think he even said that the exorcist is for him. Most of the work that exorcists perform does not involve possession. There are more common extraordinary diabolic attacks.

If a person is possessed, he is not necessarily possessed 100% of the time. They sometimes appear to lead normal lives.
 
Donā€™t advise people to go rouge, the Diocese will not just ā€œpatch you through to our Exorcistā€. They will refer you back to your pastor.
 
Calling the diocese is not a rouge action. The diocese is there to help us. Itā€™s just an alternative.

Different dioceses and exorcists handle things differently. Some exorcists keep their ministry secretive. Some are very public. Some exorcists write books, give talks, or appear on youtube. I know one exorcist who occasionally talks about his ministry during homilies in his parish. He doesnā€™t have an internet presence, but anyone can call him for advice.
 
Please read Fr. Davidā€™s response above to find out the correct answer. There most certainly is a chain of command.
 
Well, if this priest dismisses it, speak to another that you think will listen. Is suppose that is what I would do.
 
Well, why put off tomorrow what you can do today. (Says someone who is a big procrastinator, but not with urgent matters, though.) Talking to the priest ASAP is the thing. šŸ™‚
 
buc_fan33 said:
Ummā€¦no we donā€™t. Iā€™m not a psychologist, certainly not a psychiatrist. I would be wholly unqualified to make such a determination. Iā€™ve known one priest who would have been qualified, but he was a licensed clinical psychologist with his doctorate in the field.

Priests are most certainly NOT qualified to do this.
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That depends on how one phrases the situation.

No, a priest would not be the one to make a psychiatric diagnosis. Surely not.

However, it would be the priest who is qualified to make the decision ā€œis this a spiritual phenomenon?ā€ or at least be the one to know whether or not this should be referred to the bishop for further investigation (presumably by the diocesan exorcist or an expert priest delegated by the bishop to make that investigation).
 
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