“While the Computer Age has ushered in many advances, it has also opened yet another door through which Lucifer and his minions can enter and corrupt men’s souls,” said the Reverend Jim Peasboro, author of an upcoming book, The Devil in the Machine. Demons are able to possess anything with a brain, from a chicken to a human being. And today’s thinking machines have enough space on their hard drives to accommodate Satan or his pals. “Any PC built after 1985 has the storage capacity to house an evil spirit,” the minister confirmed.

The Savannah clergyman says he became aware of the problem from counseling churchgoers. “I learned that many members of my congregation became in touch with a dark force whenever they used their computers,” he said. “Decent, happily married family men were drawn irresistibly to pornographic websites and forced to witness unspeakable abominations. “Housewives who had never expressed an impure thought were entering
Internet chat rooms and found themselves spewing foul, debasing language they would never use normally.

“One woman wept as she confessed to me, ‘I feel when I’m on the computer as if someone else or something else just takes over.’ ” The minister said he probed one such case, actually logging onto the parishioner’s computer himself. To his surprise, an artificial-intelligence program fired up — without him clicking it on. “The program began talking directly to me, openly mocked me,” he recalls. “It typed out, ‘Preacher, you are a weakling and your God is a damn liar.’ ” Then the device went haywire and started printing out what looked like gobbledygook.

“I later had an expert in dead languages examine the text,” the
minister said. “It turned out to be a stream of obscenities written in a 2,800-year-old Mesopotamian dialect!” Since, then, Rev. Peasboro has researched the problem further and uncovered alarming facts.
“I learned most of the youths involved in school shootings like the tragedy at Columbine were computer buffs,” he said. “I have no doubt that computer demons exerted an influence on them.” The minister estimates that one in 10 computers in America now houses some type of evil spirit. Rev. Peasboro advises that if you suspect your computer is possessed, you consult a clergyman or, if the computer is still under warranty, take it in for servicing. He says, “Technicians can replace the hard drive and
reinstall the software, getting rid of the wicked spirit permanently.”

Found at http://www.weeklyworldnews.com

Archbishop David Hope said that computer “wizardry” was in danger of creating a “society without a soul”.

“This technology is something that could ultimately devour us,” he said in an interview with Conservatism, the quarterly journal of the Conservative Christian Fellowship.

The archbishop’s comments follow a Church of England report that warned that society should wake up to the ethical and spiritual implications of the internet.

In February, the archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, warned about what he saw as the perils of internet use, saying it could be exclusive and isolating.

‘No social interaction’

Dr Hope expressed concerned at the way the internet could limit levels of human interaction.

“I fear that we are becoming a nation which simply sits in front of a television screen and orders its lives at the press of a button or mouse,” he said.

“The danger is in having all this wizardry in individual homes which people never leave and where there is, as a result, no social interaction.”

“Like all these developments, there is that which has the potential for good, and that which has the potential for evil. There is in the internet the potential for destroying ourselves.”

Chris Wright, chairman of the group Christians on the Internet, said he was sympathetic to Dr Hope’s comments.

But he warned against Christians failing to become involved in the development of the new technology.

“He has pointed out the dangers of the internet just like there are great dangers in books and other communication mediums. I think there is an even greater danger, though, in being afraid of it,” he said.

“Just like the Church is deeply involved in work in areas such as red light districts in towns and cities and working amongst the dregs of society, we need to be involved in the internet and using our influence for the good.”

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/706341.stm

Exorcism is (1) the act of driving out, or warding off, demons, or evil spirits, from persons, places, or things, which are believed to be possessed or infested by them, or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice; (2) the means employed for this purpose, especially the solemn and authoritative adjuration of the demon, in the name of God, or any of the higher power in which he is subject. The word itself is not biblical.
Content

- IN ETHNIC RELIGIONS
- AMONG THE JEWS
- EXORCISM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

-ECCLESIASTICAL EXORCISMS
(1) Exorcism of the possessed
(2) Baptismal exorcism
(3) Other Exorcisms
What is an Exorcist?

IN ETHNIC RELIGIONS
The use of protective means against the real, or supposed, molestations of evil spirits naturally follows from the belief in their existence, and is, and has been always, a feature of ethnic religions, savage and civilized. In this connection only two of the religions of antiquity, the Egyptian and Babylonian, call for notice; but it is no easy task, even in the case of these two, to isolate what bears strictly on our subject, from the mass of mere magic in which it is embedded. The Egyptians ascribed certain diseases and various other evils to demons, and believed in the efficacy of magical charms and incantations for banishing or dispelling them. The dead more particularly needed to be well fortified with magic in order to be able to accomplish in safely their perilous journey to the. But of exorcism, in the strict sense, there is hardly any trace in the Egyptian records. Babylonian magic was largely bound up with medicine, certain diseases being attributed to some kind of demoniacal possession, and exorcism being considered easiest, if not the only, way of curing them For this purpose certain formula of adjuration were employed, in which some god or goddess, or some group of deities, was invoked to conjure away the evil one and repair the mischief he had caused.

AMONG THE JEWS
There is no instance in the Old Testament of demons being expelled by men. In Tobias 8:3, is the angel who “took the devil and bound him in the desert of upper Egypt”; and the instruction previously given to young Tobias to roast the fish’s heart in the bridal chamber, would seem to have been merely part of the angel’s plan for concealing his own identity. But in extra-canonical Jewish literature there are incantations for exorcising demons, examples of which may be seen in Talmud.
EXORCISM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
A ssuming the reality of demoniac possession, for which the authority of Christ is pledged, it is to be observed that Jesus appealed to His power over demons as one of the recognised signs of Messiah ship. He cast out demons, he declared, by the finger or spirit of God, not, as his adversaries alleged, by collusion with the prince of demons and that He exercised no mere delegated power, but a personal authority that was properly His own, is clear from the direct and imperative way in which He commands the demon to depart.

ECCLESIASTICAL EXORCISMS
Besides exorcism in the strictest sense — i.e. for driving out demons from the possessed — Catholic ritual, following early traditions, has retained various other exorcisms, and these also call for notice here.

(1) Exorcism of the possessed
We have it on the authority of all early writers who refer to the subject at all that in the first centuries not only the clergy, but lay Christians also were able by the power of Christ to deliver demoniacs or energumens, and their success was appealed to by the early Apologists as a strong argument for the Divinity of the Christian. As is clear from testimonies referred to, no magical or superstitious means were employed, but in those early centuries, as in later times, a simple and authoritative adjuration addressed to the demon in the name of God, and more especially in the name of Christ crucified, was the usual form of exorcism. But sometimes in addition to words some symbolic action was employed, such as breathing (insufflatio), or laying of hands on the subject, or making the sign of cross. The present rite of exorcism as given in the Roman Ritual fully agrees with patristic teaching and is a proof of the continuity of Catholic tradition in this matter.

(2) Baptismal exorcism
At an early age the practice was introduced into the Church of exorcising catechumens as a preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism. This did not imply that they were considered to be obsessed, like demoniacs, but merely that they were, in consequence of original sin (and of personal sins in case of adults), subject more or less to the power of the devil, whose “works” or “pomps” they were called upon to renounce, and from whose dominion the grace of baptism was about to deliver them. Exorcism in this connection is a symbolical anticipation of one of the chief effects of the sacrament of regeneration; and since it was used in the case of children who had no personal sins.

(3) Other Exorcisms
According to Catholic belief demons or fallen angels retain their natural power, as intelligent beings, of acting on the material universe, and using material objects and directing material forces for their own wicked ends; and this power, which is in itself limited, and is subject, of course, to the control of Divine providence, is believed to have been allowed a wider scope for its activity in the consequence of the sin of mankind. Hence places and things as well as persons are naturally liable to diabolical infestation, within limits permitted by God, and exorcism in regard to them is nothing more that a prayer to God, in the name of His Church, to restrain this diabolical power supernaturally, and a profession of faith in His willingness to do so on behalf of His servants on earth. The chief things formally exorcised in blessing are water, salt, oil, and these in turn are used in personal exorcisms, and in blessing or consecrating places (e.g. churches) and objects (e.g. altars, sacred vessels, church bells) connected with public worship, or intended for private devotion. Holy water, the sacramental with which the ordinary faithful are most familiar, is a mixture of exorcised water and exorcised salt; and in the prayer of blessing, God is besought to endow these material elements with a supernatural power of protecting those who use them with faith against all the attacks of the devil. This kind of indirect exorcism by means of exorcised objects is an extension of the original idea; but it introduces no new principle, and it has been used in the Church from the earliest ages.

In Christian countries authentic cases of possession sometimes occur and every priest, especially if he be a parish priest, or pastor, is liable to be called upon to perform his duty as exorcist. In doing so, he is to be mindful of the prescriptions of the Roman Ritual and of the laws of provincial or diocesan synods, which for most part require that the bishop should be consulted and his authorization obtained before exorcism is attempted.

What is an Exorcist?
Possession is not lightly to be taken for granted. Each case is to be carefully examined and great caution to be used in distinguishing genuine possession from certain forms of disease.

· The priest who undertakes the office should be himself a holy man, of a blameless life, intelligent, courageous, humble, and he should prepare for the work by special acts of devotion and mortification, particularly by prayer and a fasting.
· He should avoid in the a course of the rite everything that savours of superstition, and should leave the medical aspects of the case to qualified physicians.
· He should admonish the possessed, in so far as the latter is capable, to dispose himself for the exorcism by prayer, fasting, confession, and communion, and while the rite is in progress to excite within himself a lively faith in God’s goodness, and a patient resignation to His holy will.
· The exorcism should take place in the Church or some other sacred place, if convenient; but if on account of sickness or for other legitimate reasons, it takes place in a private house, witnesses (preferably members of the family) should be present: this is specially enjoined, as a measure of precaution, in case the subject is a woman.
· All idle and curious questioning of the demon should be avoided, and the prayers and aspirations should be read with great faith, humility, and fervour, and with a consciousness of power and authority.
· The Blessed Sacrament is not to be brought near the body of the obsessed during exorcism for fear of possible irreverence; but the crucifix, holy water, and, where available, relics of the saints are to be employed.
· If expulsion of the evil spirit is not obtained at once, the rite should be repeated, if need be, several times.
· The exorcist should be vested in surplice, and violet stole.

Summary, taken from the the Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume V
Back to top

There are two kinds of “exorcisms”:

1) The first kind is called a “Solemn Exorcism”:
A Solemn Exorcism can only be performed by a priest appointed by the local bishop and tehn only with the bishop’s specific permission. Canon Law sets this requirement.

2) The second kind is called a “Simple Exorcism”:
There are some simple exorcisms that can only be done by a priest or deacon, for example in the blessing of sacramentals.

Other forms of simple exorcisms can be done by laity. For example, the famous St. Michael Prayer that used to be said after Mass is a simple exorcism.

Everytime we say, “Father, cast this demon from my presence” and other such prayers we are doing a “simple exorcism.”
Some people are called to an apostolate of helping people who may have spiritual/demonological problems and harassments but are not so severely demonized as to need a solemn exorcism from the Church.

In these lesser cases of demonization, prayerful people, usually called “Deliverance Counselors” (so as not to confuse people with the solemn/simple exorcism distinction), may be laity or clergy and essentially help the demonized person to get rid of any “hooks” in their lives that demons may be hanging onto, teach the person how to pray spiritual warfare prayers and to remain close to God and His Church, and offer intercessory prayer for them.

Under current Church law, a Deliverance Counselor MAY NOT talk directly to the demons nor directly command them. Thus, instead of something like, “I rebuke you demon of anger” we must say, rather, something like, “Father in Heaven, please rebuke this demon of anger.” We must AVOID the “I” language.

When people go to help a demonized person and pray for them it is common and efficacious to fast. This is a spiritual practice that is always prudent when dealing with evil.

Prayers:

EXORCISM OF SALT:

2. The exorcism of salt follows: God’s creature, salt, I cast out
the demon from you by the living + God, by the true + God, by the holy + God, by God who ordered you to be thrown into the water-spring by Eliseus to heal it of its barrenness.

May you be a purified salt, a means of health for those who believe, a medicine for body and soul for all who make use of you. May all evil fancies of the foul fiend, his malice and cunning, be driven afar from the place where you are sprinkled. And let every unclean spirit be repulsed by Him who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire. R: Amen.

Let us pray.
Almighty everlasting God, we humbly appeal to your mercy and
goodness to graciously bless + this creature, salt, which you
have given for mankind’s use. May all who use it find in it a
remedy for body and mind. And may everything that it touches or sprinkles be freed from uncleanness and any influence of the evil spirit; through Christ our Lord. R: Amen.

Exorcism of the water:

God’s creature, water, I cast out the demon from you in the name of God + the Father almighty, in the name of Jesus + Christ, His Son, our Lord, and in the power of the Holy + Spirit. May you be a purified water, empowered to drive afar all power of the enemy, in fact, to root out and banish the enemy himself, along with his fallen angels. We ask this through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire. R: Amen.

Let us pray.
O God, who for man’s welfare established the most wonderful
mysteries in the substance of water, hearken to our prayer, and
pour forth your blessing + on this element now being prepared
with various purifying rites. May this creature of yours, when
used in your mysteries and endowed with your grace, serve to cast out demons and to banish disease. May everything that this water sprinkles in the homes and gatherings of the faithful be delivered from all that is unclean and hurtful; let no breath of contagion hover there, no taint of corruption; let all the wiles
of the lurking enemy come to nothing. By the sprinkling of this
water may everything opposed to the safety and peace of the
occupants of these homes be banished, so that in calling on your holy name they may know the well-being they desire, and be protected from every peril; through Christ our Lord. R: Amen.

3. Now the priest pours the salt into the water in the form of a
cross, saying: May this salt and water be mixed together; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. R: Amen.

V: The Lord be with you.
R: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
God, source of irresistible might and king of an invincible
realm, the ever-glorious conqueror; who restrain the force of the adversary, silencing the uproar of his rage, and valiantly
subduing his wickedness; in awe and humility we beg you, Lord, to regard with favor this creature thing of salt and water, to let
the light of your kindness shine upon it, and to hallow it with
the dew of your mercy; so that wherever it is sprinkled and your
holy name is invoked, every assault of the unclean spirit may be baffled, and all dread of the serpent’s venom be cast out. To us who entreat your mercy grant that the Holy Spirit may be with us wherever we may be; through Christ our Lord. R: Amen.

4. On Sundays after the water is blessed and before Mass begins the celebrant sprinkles the altar, himself, the ministers, and the people as prescribed in the Missal and in the ceremony of the Ritual given below.

5. Christ’s faithful are permitted to take holy water home with
them to sprinkle the sick, their homes, fields, vineyards, and
the like. It is recommended too that they put it in fonts in the
various rooms, so that they may use it to bless themselves daily and frequently.

From a separate section:

8. BLESSING OF OIL – EXORCISM OF OIL
V: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R: Who made heaven and earth.

Exorcism
God’s creature, oil, I cast out the demon from you by God the
Father + almighty, who made heaven and earth and sea, and all that they contain. Let the adversary’s power, the devil’s
legions, and all Satan’s attacks and machinations be dispelled
and driven afar from this creature, oil. Let it bring health in
body and mind to all who use it, in the name of God + the Father almighty, and of our Lord Jesus + Christ, His Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, as well as in the love of the same
Jesus Christ our Lord, who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire. R: Amen.

V: Lord, heed my prayer.
R: And let my cry be heard by you.
V: The Lord be with you.
R: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
Lord God almighty, before whom the hosts of angels stand in awe, and whose heavenly service we acknowledge; may it please you to regard favorably and to bless + and hallow + this creature, oil, which by your power has been pressed from the juice of olives.

You have ordained it for anointing the sick, so that, when they are made well, they may give thanks to you, the living and true
God. Grant, we pray, that those who will use this oil, which we are blessing + in your name, may be delivered from all suffering, all infirmity, and all wiles of the enemy. Let it be a means of averting any kind of adversity from man, made in your image and redeemed by the precious blood of your Son, so that he may never again suffer the sting of the ancient serpent; through Christ our

Lord. R: Amen.

It is sprinkled with holy water.