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Priests flock to Vatican’s exorcism classes

Priests flock to Vatican’s exorcism classes

Theos research on Christianity and Mental Health is mentioned in a BBC report on the issue of exorcisms.

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The Vatican has opened its doors for its annual exorcism course amid increasing demand among some of the world’s Catholic communities.

As many as 250 priests from 50 countries have arrived in Rome to learn how to identify demonic possession, to hear personal accounts from other priests and to find out more about the rituals behind expelling demons.

Exorcism remains controversial, in part due to its depiction in popular culture and horror films. But there have also been some cases of abuse linked to exorcisms in a range of religious sects.

Half a million people reportedly seek exorcisms every year in Italy, while a report by Christian think–tank Theos in 2017 said that the practice was also on the rise in the UK, in part due to the spread of Pentecostal churches.

Read the full article on the BBC here

 

 Image from the BBC.

Posted 17 April 2018

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