Dangers of Deliverance Ministry by Priests

Much evil present in the world today has its source in the spiritual, religious and the natural realms. For example, the sacrament of Baptism and the practice of exorcism, as rituals that brought new life in Christ, developed from the world of sin and evil spirits. The warding off of devils gradually formed part of other sacraments and sacramentals. Exorcism, also known as ‘ghost busting’, and ritual of deliverance, are common practice now in the Churches. Exorcism is practised in many forms to ward off the evil spirit from the ‘possessed’. With diverse rituals and religious practices (piety), the negative power is eliminated and the victim saved. Demons/evil spirits do exert an influence in the evils of this world. But influence and possession are not the same. Possession is when a person has lost control of his/her actions and the power is taken over by an evil spirit, believed to be working in the person. It is often confused with oppression or obsession. Obsession and oppression signify a situation in which one is afflicted to a lesser degree by an evil spirit.

By focusing on demons, demon-possession and evil spirit, and by being preoccupied with casting them off through some rituals and ‘occult practices’, the Church and her priests empower the ‘demons’ themselves, and advocate exorcism and deliverance excessively. Priests should focus on glorifying God, and exhorting all to resist the evil in their lives as the Scriptures exhort. A baptized Christian believer, living in the light brought by Christ, cannot be demon-possessed unless he allows it: “All of you are citizens of the light and the day; we do not belong to night and darkness” (1 Thes 5:6). He can only be influenced by evils existing around.  Therefore, being alert and awake, we ought to worship God and concentrate on him, and not be chasing after demons.

Occult practices distract persons from true religious piety, from seeking after God. They are often deceived by their own gurus or spirit guides, leading to the extent that they despair of knowing whom to trust or what to believe, and are lost and left insecure. Consequently, these persons become dependent out of despair, and without rationality surrender blindly to the occult practitioners and do as they direct. Occult activity rejects God’s will for men and women. God forbids it as an “abomination” to Him (Deut 18:9-12).  

A right “relationship with and faith in God”, a personal experience of God is more important than casting out demons. Otherwise, there is the danger of becoming animists within post-modernity. One is prone to practice Christian magic: purifying objects, casting out demons in every turn and looking for signs of hidden demons or satanic symbols, rituals or curses.

Many Christians are dabbling with occult practices because they are dissatisfied with their lives and look out for supernatural avenues to find fulfilment. Some priests take advantage of such situations. Going to a priest-fortune-teller for any type of divine guidance means one is placing this person before God. He can have only partial knowledge about you. No human has the supernatural ability to know what is going to happen to you now and in the future, if they have never met you before. When nothing seems to help the afflicted, it need not necessarily be caused by a demon. It may be the person is not letting go of his desires (M. Bubeck, The Adversary, 25-44). Blaming the demons for the person’s problems takes away his/her responsibility concerning sin and victimizes more the already troubled. 

Some of the dangers inherent to this type of healing and ‘future-telling’ process by priests within the Church are as follows: These priests tend to make absolute one’s claims and powers, as signs of being ´true´ Christian; tend to close oneself off, i.e. follow one’s own spiritual and pastoral plans and methods to carry out one’s own apostolic activities, refusing to collaborate with other Church organizations or the community; and there is tendency to cut themselves off from the local Church/community, making reference in their apostolic activity more to their own achievements, methods and practices. This can create tension between the self-proclaimed ‘healing practice’ and the common Church pastoral ministry.

Ways to Deliverance Ministry

Deliverance ministry that has become quite common, happens in Catholic churches and during retreats and charismatic conventions. It can be offered to Christians or others who seek help against demonic affliction. Some priests teach that believers could become free from family curses and demonic bondages and affliction. It can be offered by lay people as well as priests.

Human beings with physical and spiritual nature and as ‘persons’ are inseparable from their history, cultures, geography and society.  Within such reality, deliverance and healing have to be placed in the context of a particular culture and people’s belief system in the reality and activity of spirits.  Broadly speaking, evil spirits are not regarded to be widely active in the West, and most definitely not in the lives of believers except those who have recourse to occult practices.

People often believe that sickness, a failure of a crop or financial hardship are due to the influence of the evil spirits. They go to doctors and modern medicines, but they also have recourse to witchcraft and occult practitioners who have the power to ward off such spirits. In such situation priests need to support a person reporting affliction by evil spirits, those who suffer from demonic oppression or ‘possession’. Priest has to have a love for the person, and listen attentively, enter into the pain of the other. At least a religious ritual, non-judgmental and empathic response will be curative pastoral healing (Derald Sue, Counselling the Culturally Diverse, 216). With sympathy, prayer and counselling, and through recourse to prayer, to the sacraments, and to other forms of devotion, the priest guides the person into the practice of these spiritual remedies, Spiritual direction or spiritual counselling. For, much suffering in a person’s life is rooted in psychological causes and not having right relationship with God.

Canon law is explicit in its regulations about the Rite of Exorcism, but not so much for deliverance ministry. In the Vatican documents, “there are very few explicit recognitions that demons can influence human beings in ways which fall short of full possession” (G. Leyshon, Exorcism and Prayers for Deliverance, 17) Exorcism is reserved to a priest with explicit permission by the local bishop (Code of Canon Law, 1172).

Priests must focus on God, his mission, and his people. Jesus is our best model. Priests need not rely on experience, tactics and tools, special gifting or spiritual calling. They have the authority to use the power of the Holy Spirit. They should not encourage demons to manifest themselves, nor to search for hidden ones. They must distance themselves from magical, occult and animistic practices and return to the Gospel of truth, that truly sets people free.

It must be acknowledged that mental illness and demonic affliction/possession present with the same symptoms and evil spirits can exert influence over a person through their damaged minds or wounded emotions (an evil spirit may co-exist with a pathological state).  In these cases, some psychological/psychiatric techniques can be used along with spiritual responses. Priest may give further counselling and suggest spiritual practices, personal prayer and communal worship by the help of a supportive Christian community. One must keep in mind that deliverance is not a single act of casting off an evil spirit, but part of the ongoing process of building the right relationship with God and towards living a full Christian life of psychological, physical and social well-being.

Conclusion

What must be done then? We need to be observant about what is happening in our parishes, in retreat centres, prayer groups and even within our own homes. That would be a great start in protecting ourselves from these dangers.

In the Catholic fold, the sacraments are the spiritual weapons. Besides, sacramentals (novenas, rosaries, statues, holy water, scapulars, gestures: standing, sitting, kneeling, bowing, etc.) which are symbolic words or actions, can be of great help.  A priest cannot stand still! He has a moral obligation to help a person afflicted by evil spirits/illness with understanding and empathy, and suggest ways to free the person from such affliction. People who go through inner pain, try to share the spiritual aspects of their illness but doctors and psychiatrists are often unwilling to address their needs in their own religious/spiritual terms. Those who seek counselling or therapy often seek out a religious/priest. Church is the place for healing for those suffering from mental/spiritual illness. The priest with his character, manner and profession has the power and a life changing role to play in someone’s life. If people become empowered and connected to their own spirit and with the Spirit of God, and see themselves as a temple of the Holy Spirit, they don’t need exorcism or deliverance.