Exorcism Gone Bad

[cynatnite]

PHOENIX - Officers responding to a report of an exorcism on a young girl found her grandfather choking her and used stun guns to subdue the man, who later died, authorities said Sunday.

The 3-year-old girl and her mother, who was also in the room during the struggle between 49-year-old Ronald Marquez and officers, were hospitalized, police said. Their condition was unavailable.

The relative who called police said an exorcism had also been attempted Thursday.

"The purpose was to release demons from this very young child," said Sgt. Joel Tranter.

Officers arrived at the house Saturday and entered when they heard screaming coming from a bedroom, Tranter said.

A bed had been pushed up against the door; the officers pushed it open a few inches and saw Marquez choking his bloodied granddaughter, who was crying in pain and gasping, Tranter said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070729/ap_on_re_us/exorcism_death

[Hissyspit]

1. Maybe they should work on their own "demons" instead of bloodying and choking a young girl.

Just a thought.

[Kutjara]

2. Isn't that what's supposed to happen?

Admittedly, my knowlege of exorcism is largely drawn from the movie, but I thought at least one of the "exorcists" is supposed to die at the end.

:hide:

[cui bono]

3. Nah. Movies have to have happy endings. That's what the focus groups want. n/t

[Kutjara]

4. Don't tell me they edited out the "priest down the steps" scene...

...in the original "Exorcist" movie. It was all that gave us Catholic boarding-school kids hope of some kind of justice in the world. I remember a school trip to Georgetown where each of us posed for photos, sprawled at the bottom of the same steps. The nuns were not amused.

[NuttyFluffers]

5. oh crap! the demon is still loose!

:evilgrin:

seriously though, there's a reason that catholics are very hush hush about exorcism and only do it in an absolute last resort with incredibly strict rules. it's frighteningly easy for laymen to think they can do exorcisms, and only a short step from there to see everything around them "possessed by demons!" and needing their 'administrations.' it's a disturbing trend to see charismatic and pentacostal movements taking this ritual and running with it without the rigid discipline and understanding. like any psychotherapeutic technique, from religious rituals to clinical psychotherapy, it requires a high level of professionalism and rules otherwise people will be in danger.

oh, and i still think police should use tranquilizer guns instead of tasers. i mean, who doesn't like a little quaalude here and there?

[Locrian]

6. better call these guys

seriously though, wtf is this 1307?