An official exorcist has claimed that he received 1,700 requests for exorcisms in the past year as people struggle to deal with day-to-day life.
Although the church doesn’t keep official statistics, several priests suggested that year-on-year they receive more requests for exorcisms.
The official exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Father Vincent, told The Atlantic that this year he received the most inquiries he has ever had.
Human’s are constantly completing with social problems beyond their control such as the loss of skilled jobs, drug addiction, and blighted communities have led people to believe there are other forces at work.
An official exorcist has claimed that he received 1,700 requests for exorcisms in the past year as people struggle to deal with day-to-day life
Father Gary Thomas, who’s exorcism experience was documented in 2011 movie The Rite, said he typically receives dozens of requests a week.
As well as those who have been exorcists for years, the church has also been training priests up for the role across the globe in Chicago, Rome and Manila.
Just seven years ago the U.S. Catholic church had around 15 exorcists but there are now believed to be more than 100 practicing.
However for most people who insist that they require an exorcism, they are in fact suffering from something completely different entirely.
Although the church doesn’t keep official statistics, several priests suggested that year-on-year they receive more requests for exorcisms
Father Lampert recalled a young man who sought an exorcism and had been told he was experiencing schizophrenia symptoms, which he believed were the work of the devil.
The priest will only take the exorcism seriously if both the mental health evaluation and physical exam do not produce a reasonable explanation for their symptoms.
They will then search for signs of possession including language they are unlikely to have learned, physical strength, secret knowledge and an abhorrence of God.
The process begins with the priest sprinkling holy water on the possessed, they would then make the sign of the cross and kneel to say the Litany of the Saints and several readings of scripture.
The exorcist will then try to directly address the demon and request that they must reveal themselves and answer with their name, and also leave when the are ordered out.
Due to the fact that the exorcist is working with the power of God the demon has no choice but to obey, according to Catholic doctrine.
As well as people struggling with modern life, some exorcists suggested that their has also been an increase in witchcraft and attempting to communicate with the dead.
Louise Muskovits, 33, is one of many American’s who have sought an exorcism after being ‘taken over’ by unnatural forces in March 2016.
On the surface Muskovits appeared to be having a panic attack, during an interview with her counselor in Tacoma, Washington while recovering from alcohol abuse.
However following the experience she was left convinced she had been possessed, after her character transformed and she began screaming and pulling out her hair.
She told the counselors that were trying to communicate with her that ‘nobody could save Louisa’.
Louisa apparently switched between this erratic state and her normal self, as if she was fighting an internal battle.
She had previously detailed being ‘taken over’ by a dark force where she would read scripture out loud to send it away.
Following the experience Louisa looked for mental-health treatment as well as the ritualized remedies of her Catholic faith.