Yahoo News: First Day of School for Aspiring Vatican Exorcists

[MalibuChloe]

By Philip Pullella
Thu Oct 13, 8:00 AM ET
ROME (Reuters) - It was the first day of school, so some students were understandably nervous. But then again, they were not taking just any course, but one run by a Vatican university to teach aspiring demonologists and exorcists.

"There is no doubt that the devil is intervening more in the life of man these days," Father Paolo Scarafoni told the students, most of them priests who want to learn how to tackle the demon if they should ever encounter him.

"Not all of you will become exorcists but it is indispensable that every priest knows how to discern between demonic possession and psychological problems," he said.

The four-month course, called "Exorcism and the Prayer of Liberation," is being offered for the second year by Pontifical Regina Apostolorum University on Rome's outskirts.

The about 120 students from around the world will hear lectures on topics such as the pastoral, spiritual, theological, liturgical, medical, legal and criminological aspects of Satanism and demonic possession.

snip.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051013/ts_nm/pope_exorcism_dc

[TlalocW]

1. Yay! Back to the Dark Ages!

Let's learn to combat something that doesn't exist! After this, we're going to show you how to keep gnomes out of your garden, and our discussion panel will talk about what kinds of cookies you should give Santa if you want really good presents this year! Back after this message from our sponsors, Cold Fusion Technologies, Ltd.

TlalocW

[IndianaGreen]

16. Fundies believe that demons cause homosexuality

and they hated Freud from revealing that mental illness was just that illness, not some demon or sin.

[Beetwasher]

2. Welcome! Please Check Your Critical Thinking Skills and Reason At The Door

And pick up your medievel torture devices at that desk over there.

[MalibuChloe]

4. I think Linda Blair should be a guest speaker. n/t

[LatinoSocialist]

21. LOL

why am I getting images of Monty Python after reading your post! :)

[Ian David]

3. Hey, and Gay Marriage will destroy Western Civilization, too!

Geniuses!

Visionaries!


I see a little silhouetto of a man,
Scaramouche,scaramouche will you do the fandango-
Thunderbolt and lightning-very very frightening me-
Galileo,galileo,
Galileo galileo
Galileo figaro-magnifico-

[VegasWolf]

5. If the subject floats, then she is possessed and must be terminated!

[dflprincess]

6. On the other hand, maybe for their final exam

they could try and drive the demons out of the White House. :evilgrin:

[moobu2]

7. Some priest was arested recently

I cant remember the entire story but a woman died during an exorcism. They stuffed towels in the woman’s mouth, tied her up and left her there for several day's where she died in agony..

[Bridget Burke]

13. Yes, a priest of the Romanian Orthodox Church

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4107524.stm

Sorry, you can't blame everything on the RC's.

[moobu2]

14. You mean the RC exorcism will be less lethal? Or what?

I'm not clear. Maybe that's why Pope Natzinger has started the classes, you know, to prevent the killing of the Devil possesed or witches or whatever. I don't know really.

[Bridget Burke]

24. You're not clear. You don't know, really.

What can I add?

[Dorian Gray]

35. There have always been classes.

This is not a new Ratzinger endorsed thing. It's been ongoing.

[Sandpiper]

8. Who needs Psychiatry and Psychology?

When you can have a man in black frock toss some holy water on you and read some incantations!

Argggggh!



:banghead:

[VegasWolf]

9. Welcome to the 21st Century! Amerikka should just adopt the Pope! nt

[melody]

10. I understand Hogwart is taking new Harry Potter disciples, too

Hey, if the Catholics can have schools for their fairy tales, then I'll believe in this if I want. lol

[bee]

11. tee hee. I love it. I dont know why. But I love it. n/t

[Zenlitened]

12. Man, 'The Onion' always cracks me up!

Oh, wait... :yoiks:

[IndianaGreen]

15. The Vatican is now teaching superstition

Kick the gay priests out. Keep the pedophiles. Frighten the faithful with tales of terror and superstition. What a control mechanism!

[Ezlivin]

17. Priests apparently think that little boys have demons in their pants

Or how else can you explain their desire to get into said pants?

[VegasWolf]

18. Todays lesson will be the spell "Alahambra", now get your wands!

[woo me with science]

19. LOL.....It's a start....

First day of school for exorcists. I wonder what the school supply list included.

I'm glad this nonsense is getting attention. I wish they would also shine a light on the first day of school for homeopathic practitioners, repressed memory therapists, and practitioners of EMDR, cranio-sacral therapy, facilitated communication, "vision therapy," etc. etc. etc...

Let's root out all the superstition and put the charlatans out of business.

[Stuckinthebush]

20. OK...sure...need those devil chasers I guess

People and their beliefs....quite fascinating really.

You know, if people want to believe that evil entities can inhabit a location or person, then it really doesn't harm anyone. So from a tolerance standpoint, its not a problem to say, "whatever floats your boat".

But, I have to wonder how this kind of non-scientific thinking from one of the worlds largest sects of Christianity really hurts our eventual scientific advancement.

[gauguin57]

22. Merrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiin!

Sorry. Just had to say it. Also: "Dimi, why you leave me Dimi?"

[corporatemedia]

23. This story has my head spinning. eom

[rodeodance]

25. I would think the Catholic church was in enough trouble -without this!!

[moobu2]

26. Next they'll bring back

the ban on those evil left-handed people.

[newspeak]

30. oh goddess, don't say that

I'm a left-handed non-christian white woman!!!!!!AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[VegasWolf]

27. Official school sport to be Quiddich! nt

[Zhade]

28. HAHAHAHA!!!

This is serious!

:rofl:

I had no idea rational adults still believed in this nonsense.

[newspeak]

31. SO.........

Is it burning times, yet baby?

[Orsino]

29. But what are they doing about leprechauns? n/t

[VegasWolf]

32. and the new found hobbit species - Homo floresiensis? NT

:popcorn:

[BiggJawn]

33. "To Paolo, with fondness..."

The power of SPONGEBOB Compells you!

[cassiepriam]

34. SEND THEM HERE FAST......

we need a major exorcism in Wash DC...