Exorcism - Dangerous dealings with the Devil | DW Documentary

I'm father Roman I've been a priest for about 12 years and an exorcist for eight years I have no doubt that God and the devil exist I have real evidence that the devil is here that he's active and that we need to beware of him truly [Music] belief in the devil to many it sounds like medieval law but in the 21st century Satan is making something of a comeback some people have no doubt the devil exists including those who hunt him down exorcists typically keep a low profile but we meet with several to see what they have to say some we are thrilled to welcome you here for your baptism a baptism is always a very special occasion and a chance to meet a future member of the community we make this sign on the forehead in the Catholic tradition when someone is baptized they sometimes undergo an initial exorcism upon entering the church at the baptism we try to banish all evil from the heart the ancient writs describe the notion of a minor exorcism to be conducted on the child the priest back then would explain that it was not about evil Deeds but that it was our human nature that required purification because we are marked by Original Sin I baptize you in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen amen VOA is exist a title you're totally fine with yes completely there are a lot of myths among the general public but I fully subscribe to it I don't see why we shouldn't talk about [Applause] it I usually meet with people here in the rectory it's a religious building with statues and religious symbols at this point we already get an idea of a person's level of infestation or vexation a person who is severely spiritually infected can't even walk through the rector's door here I have a container with the Eucharist inside if someone in your team was possessed they would have already left this room because it triggers a very strong reaction you have the host in your pocket exactly and another thing when I examine a person who feels possessed I sprinkle them with water that hasn't been blessed if the person reacts very strongly that indicates that it's psychosomatic and I can say there's a good chance it's not a reaction from the devil because the water wasn't blessed if you break your leg you know why and how it can be healed but if you have a spiritual problem you're completely helpless do you introduce yourself as an exorcist exist no I don't talk about it many of my parishioners don't know we have all age groups slightly more women than men sometimes parents bring their children sometimes teenagers usually they come because they're grappling with a deep Mala Mal they feel things inside them that they can't [Music] explain sometimes they've already seen a psychiatrist and either they feel the diagnosis didn't resonate or that the psychiatrist didn't understand what they were experiencing they've often visited fortune tellers or card [Music] readers and at some point someone has said what you have is terrible I can't do anything for you you have to go to an exorcist and then they just assume the village Shaman that's me will solve the problem immediately with a prayer but that's not how it works [Music] I remember the very first time I'd heard you could pray for people who had practiced spiritualism a person came to confession and said I've been practicing spiritualism for a long time I feel bad I don't know what's going on and I said listen it's all right I'll give you Absolution and then I'll pray for you and as I started to pray she started Ed screaming you're hurting me and I realized something unexpected was happening I was amazed that a prayer could do something like that things I had never seen before like a person rolling on the floor a person reacting because I was wearing the stole things like that it's incredible it really works just how much just how much this book is about the rituals of exorcism and prayers of Supplication it's not something you can just find in any Corner bookstore can I read about these rituals you could read it but there aren't many copies in circulation it's usually handed out personally from the diois and Bishop to the priest in charge of the exorcism it's like giving a scalpel to someone who knows nothing about medicine or surgery it's dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands what is the exorcism take place what's it like can you describe it I tailor the ritual to the person and their individual needs during the first stage the dominant feeling is hostility like there's something that wants to tear us down this is the vexation or Obsession stage when someone reaches the stage of infestation there are stronger symptoms the person finds objects have been moved around at home they experience bad smells waking up at night in Terror or sensing a presence unfortunately for these people this is often only seen or felt by them this is infestation [Music] the last stage is possession this is extremely rare the person Slips Away from themselves often it's not the person thems who reports it but people around them who say listen I don't know what's going on suddenly they've gone into a kind of frenzy I don't recognize them anymore the person is no longer themselves and what's also quite common in possession is levitation you see the body contort and the person speaks a language they don't know that's very disturbing evil wants to silence you seen all this with your own eyes yes also a phenomenon that looks like normal vomiting at first but can last 10 to 15 minutes it doesn't seem to stop at all I think it really is the demon it's hard to believe or even imagine what do you say to Skeptics I can only report what I've seen with my own eyes at the risk of being called crazy but I don't care about that so you really believe the devil exists yes without a doubt and I think the church needs to be clear about it up the Catholic church has always recognized the existence of Satan but it's long been wey of focusing too much attention on him this changed with the inauguration of Pope Francis in his speeches the pope proclaimed that the devil really does exist thereby legitimizing the practice of [Music] exorcism but in Switzerland certain Church Representatives oppos this fear-based approach in 2022 the bishop of chur announced that he would eliminate The Exorcist Post in his dasis sparking debate during the time of my predecessor we had an exorcist monor Kristoff cassetti an influx of people came to him from our dases from other dases and also from abroad that created demand but you don't see a need for this there is a need because many people are suffering feeling tormented hurt and exhausted but you have to build a team of experts who can deal with these requests this requires cooperation and exchange between different experts not just priests but also psychologists and psychotherapists people trained to recognize what situation a particular person is in I read in a press release that issues of exorcism can be dealt with by medication and psychiatrists I'm sorry but that's nuts that would mean that there are no extraordinary demonic acts if it can be treated medically but what really saddens me is to hear there isn't a priest there who can help people in [Music] need for me it's a stepping back on the part of the church I think it's a great shame speaking as a former Soldier I believe in fulfilling my duty at all costs and this Duty includes liberating souls and casting out Satan when he's there if the church steps back from this Duty others will step [Music] in ex of the Catholic Church these days are careful it's very dangerous I understand them sure they have The Bishop's mandate but that doesn't mean they have a gift for this work they're wary of the devil Pier dulong was ordained as a priest in the gacan church a branch of the Catholic church not recognized by Rome we meet the Healer and Exorcist in a small village in the Gars Department in the south of France and we aren't the only ones waiting for him there's a hive of activity outside his [Music] farm this demon Hunter's reputation goes back to the [Music] 70s I feel a little depressed and tired I still feel blockages your inner self feels it exactly it's the spirit but that's normal it can take many months don't worry it's because you're still possessed normally Catholic priests don't allow exorcisms to be filmed but pong isn't camera shy [Music] when the gift of healing was revealed to me a force arose in me an inner force stronger than myself the people who come to me have often tried everything nothing works for them and they don't understand why since arriving here I felt [Music] unwell it's something inside you're still possessed when nothing else works that's often what's behind it not always but you have to check you don't know why it happens I see myself doing it but I can't stop it I assume you've had treatment yes I've been to psychiatrist and psychologists I'm a nursing assistant myself so I'm familiar with conventional medicine the symptoms correspond to what doctors call depression demonic possession or not during the 45-minute session we witnessed real [Music] [Music] Agony the person can pounce on you you can't be alone with it it can kill you does evil talk is there dialogue sometimes I once asked what his name was and why he was in this body I said the body wasn't his and to return it to God what did he say you're annoying me stop it you can't hurt me 3/4 of the people who come to me now have practiced spiritualism they wanted to know something or talk to their grandfather grandmother [Music] uncle but beware this is dangerous the demon will speak exactly like your loved one he'll pretend to be them but it's the demon I fought with Lucifer and even Satan he had a rough voice and eyes he spat at me it was terrible and how do you know the demons are gone I've won if the person has eliminated him the person has to eliminate him from the front or back I need to sit down what are these sessions like do you remember them I'm aware of everything you hear yourself screaming yes and that's really disturbing did you ever think you'd feel possessed no no but I feel like I'm in a negative Vicious Circle there's a part of me that says yes and then there's another part but it's good that I could come tonight it does you good can you go home yes [Music] how many exorcisms have you done in the last 40 years I don't know probably thousands how much does it cost €45 exactly the same as 40 years ago don't forget that are the sessions over violence yes terrible one person spat out a snake a snake yes that long you I've seen people speaking Spanish who didn't know it or Arabic German you can't understand them one person who was possessed for four or five years was levitating four people tried to hold her down she levitated levitation levitation High yes 50 cm unbelievable she stayed there for a while and then fell back again are you aware that some viewers will either think you're completely crazy or a charlatan of course when you're not the one with the problem it's easy to call someone a charlatan but when that changes and Medicine can't help and neither can anyone else then you might be glad to meet a person like me a person like [Music] dong speaking unknown languages knowing unknowable information having superhuman Powers there raw criteria that the Vatican has recognized a signs of possession but is there a rational explanation we went in search of answers from the medical profession as a scientist to what extent do you see these as signs of possession I'll leave that diagnosis to the exorcists and the Vatican these are extreme situations that we psychiatrists don't see in [Music] hospitals should un one example is levitation it's said that the possessed person rises above their bed anyone would be frightened to see that but there is a symptom in severe psychiatric cases where people get terrible muscle contractions and they form an arch if there's a sheet over them it might look like they're floating what if these priests told you they saw the devil at work well I do too every day as a doctor working with addiction you have 20-year-olds with a heroin syringe in their arms telling you life sucks I mean if that isn't the devil ja despite his scientific background Jac Bon advocates for the use of exorcism within an appropriate framework the psychiatrist has collaborated with priests in their practice of spiritual Liberation I think we need to move Beyond these outdated Hollywood exorcisms you can't scare people these days with a snarling devil with horns I think it would be a good idea to develop a contemporary approach to exorcism you have to accept that evil exists it's something that concerns people and they're left with unmet spiritual needs in a disenchanted world that's plagued by existential [Applause] emptiness fing an existential ual void satisfying spiritual needs that's exactly what the Evangelical Church claims to [Music] offer we're in the Gospel Center oron a place of worship in the heart of the industrial district of oron laille in French speaking switzland for these believer life is a constant battle between good and evil demons are everywhere and the pastor's job is to drive them away the founder of the Gospel Center is Vana lemman a charismatic figure revered by the congregation for his powers of Deliverance God distributes his gifts and I believe I've received many spiritual gifts but we're not superhuman I think the term exorcism often scares people I think Deliverance is usually a more appropriate term that's less frightening you don't have to tie people up I've never had to hold anyone down so they don't hit [Music] me do people pay you for deliverance no no I don't try to earn a living from praying for others and the fact that others make money from it doesn't bother me what is Deliverance it's when someone has something in their life that prevents them from living a good normal life all people have suffered grievances things that have hurt them when people wallow in hatred absolute non forgiveness and a profound anger they open themselves up to evil spirits that torment them let me explain how the enemy Works I'd say the most common entry point is rejection I was on a vacation with my wife I met a woman who became agitated when she saw me the spirit threw the woman to the ground and began to speak he said this is my home and I'm not leaving I'll kill her and you'll have a dead woman on your conscience I spoke to the spirit I don't normally he said he was there because the woman's mother had cursed her my wife grabbed her wrist and said in the name of Jesus I untie you she then told us her mother wanted to abort her but it was complicated and in her desperation her mother said the child belonged to the devil I told her to say Lord Jesus released myself from this curse and the spirit said I want to go we prayed for him and he [Applause] [Music] went if a Deliverance works it gives you a kind of [Applause] [Music] power I don't believe so I believe that power never really resides in us we have an authority that's given to us by God it's given to all who are believers but you shouldn't ever feel the need to say yes I can deliver you I have the power or anything but it helps make you charismatic yes of course we talk about deliver but paradoxically during the Deliverance process people seem to get more tied up in the Evangelical worldview and demonological symbolism than they were [Music] before what's quite perverse about this relationship is the asymmetry it's always the pastor or the spiritual leader who knows what's good for the person on the receiving end that person is systematically placed in an asymmetric relationship where they're inferior the pastor uses their words to describe the person's disturbances and to experience Deliverance they must agree to enter into the pastor's symbolic world it's an extremely high price to pay to feel liberated they have to internalize a worldview in which demons are everywhere [Music] I'm Christian [ __ ] I'm married with two children I'm 50 and I lead the Evangelical Alliance in french-speaking [Music] Switzerland I've been practicing Deliverance for 30 years and I've seen that it works I don't see the devil or angels I see demons and evil spirits in a Deliverance you might see hear or smell them there are some spirits that have a very specific smell spirits of control religiosity dominance and Witchcraft smell like ammonia based on my experience alongside his role as leader Ain to that of a bishop Christian [ __ ] is also an expert on demons he even organized his first courses in demonology for prospective Pastors in french-speaking Switzerland you're a big tough God are you afraid of demons no no the authority of Jesus Christ is all-encompassing these Spirits are cornered so sometimes they try to trick you or disguise themselves some Spirits also claim to be Satan which is laughable because Satan doesn't incarnate in people's lives angels have a Heavenly Body but demons don't they're spirits and in the same matter of fact tone Christian explains how demons enter us it's often our own fault I think there are basically three ways in which Spirits can get into our lives into our bodies one is through repeated sinning you don't invite a lying Spirit by lying once but if you persist then you eventually get in a tangle and the gate opens then there are traumatic circumstances for example if you have an accident you're very vulnerable physically but Also spiritually this can happen in operating rooms under anesthesia there are certain circumstances like these in which Spirits are given the right to enter the Third Way is heredity the sins of your ancestors can affect you the Bible says says the open gate can be passed down three to four generations or 10 Generations in the case of children what do you mean by to children children conceived out of wedlock they're a special case but we usually talk about curses passing on to the next three or four generations [Music] this rather disturbing worldview is also held by the director of the Evangelical Alliance in frenchspeaking Switzerland and shared by many Believers amen and it doesn't stop [Music] there another purported Gateway is sexuality do you see homosexuality as a possible Gateway I haven't had the opportunity to pray for that particular problem it's a life choice as long as people live regular secular lives without engaging spiritually with God it can work but when they come to God they may see there are things in their lives that need to be sorted out it's an obstacle an obstacle yes all right [Music] homosexuality according to their interpretation of the Bible is one of the sins that strengthens the demon if I'm afflicted by demons it's my fault and if despite attempts at Deliverance the demon cannot be cast out it's because I failed to fully confess to something so it's a system that's extremely guilt oriented Adrian the burden of guilt around for years he was 14 when he moved to Switzerland with his parents coming from an Evangelical family he joined the church community and hoped to find spiritual fulfillment there but Adrian soon realized he was attracted to [Music] boys the moment I told the church about it they said it was not God's plan for me and that it was possible to be healed from it the pastor of the church said there was a spirit associated with homosexuality that had attached itself to me through a puppet from Burma that was in my parents house it was set on fire in the garden with petrol because at that time it was believed that if an object was possessed by a spirit the only way to drive it away was to burn it over the years Adrian experienced melting pressure from his church in Geneva he decided to take part in an intensive week-long conversion Therapy Program in New York it was led by a pastor called [Music] Harley during the therapy I wrote down what happened every day and all those years I kept a [Music] diary Harley commands the demon that bound to pain lovelessness and silence to leave and join the Throne of God the demons begin to laugh and laugh making fun of a little boy suffering in the desert I had physical symptoms during the therapy it was like I could feel Spirits coming out of me what was it like [Music] um I touch my neck and it's the Leviathan The Long Neck of a reptile I feel it sticky scales the Leviathan is a dragon a kind of long snake with legs that lives in deep Waters inside me the Leviathan doesn't want to leave I can feel my throat constricting and being strangled by the Leviathan who's tormenting [Music] me I thought I'd been liberated when I left I thought I could be what God wanted me to be heterosexual and I could fit into his plans what happened next this Deliverance lasts until your wonderful human nature takes over again and you start to live according to your desires again your dreams and the things that make up the richness of your Humanity at that moment you feel an enormous guilt that's going to destroy you even [Music] more I think I was manipulated and that it was in fact spiritual abuse they tell you it's the absolute truth and there's no other way this doesn't only happen in Evangelical circles clergy from other religious groups also engage in frequent and excessive deliverance and exorcism practices in the south of France we meet a woman called Lucy the 30-year old is originally from Madagascar she was adopted by a family with close ties to the societ Society of St Pas I 10th a fundamentalist Catholic Community founded in Switzerland in 1970 the group has been controversial in this Society the father has a dominant role he's there to command and make sure the whole family stays on the right path of religion he's the patriarch Lucy met her husband through the society she married him at 18 became pregnant at 20 and had five children how were things with him very bad there was a lot of violence slaps kicks punchers I sought help from the priests in my Parish one priest in particular he blamed me told me I'm too dominant towards my husband that I should be submissive he said all my outbursts of anger were triggered by a demon he linked it to my past that I was adopted by a Muslim tribe and the traces had to be removed from me I had about 20 exorcisms in six years they take place in the prior in the priest's office an exorcism lasts up to 50 minutes you're on your knees you have to confess to your sins you have to wait for the priest to say his prayers and press on your chest so the demons come out being Catholic I really accepted the priest's advice because I wanted to save my family and my marriage despite her efforts the beatings continued so Lucy finally asked her husband to leave the marital home the society then attempted One Last Exorcism to change her [Music] mind that night there was a knock at the door I opened it and the priest came in and pulled me into the cellar he wanted to cast out the demon in me by trying to get me to say I was wrong I was afraid he'd do something bad to me I told myself he wouldn't attack me in my own home and he didn't have the right to take my [Music] children they talk a lot about the devil in the Society of St Pas the goal is not to go to hell exorcism is common among the priests are you still in the society today no not anymore I'm still a Believer but I'm not practicing and I'm very glad I left Lucy is not an isolated case other testimonies and an internal document corroborating the practice of exorcism within the society suggest it's performed regularly we contacted the society in Switzerland but received no response the bishop of chur urges extreme when it comes to exorcisms this insistence on exorcisms is not good pastoral care the primary task that Christ entrusted to us was not to fight evil but to Proclaim salvation and goodness the stiring up the fear of the devil drive people towards God n while this no because driving people would mean forcing people to do something they're not free and that has no value to God the greatest gift God has given to us is our freedom we can only love if we are free [Music] I've severed all ties with my former Evangelical Community about 10 years ago I reached a point where I felt like a veil was being lifted I realized that maybe everything I believed had actually been drilled into me and was not from God [Music] and this made it possible for me to reconcile my identity and my spirituality did you set up the antenna lgbti Geneva group in the Protestant church here because of your personal [Music] experiences I felt ready to offer others that space of self-discovery and Reconciliation that I had been missing we're here neither to judge nor to impose our views on other people I believe in things we can't see I think my faith is still alive and real but of course it's very different from my former Faith because there the ideal was Blind Faith where intelligence and freedom of thought and interpretation were stifled how did I manage it perhaps by the grace of God [Music] [Applause] [Music]

Channel: DW Documentary

Views: 124,300

Keywords: Documentary, DW documentary, full documentary, DW, documentary 2023, dw documentary, documentaries, Documentaries, documentary, devil, exorcism, priest, evangelicals, healer, Exorcists, Catholic Church, evangelical, satan, demons, exorcism documentary

Id: RpJhvPXOul0

Length: 42min 26sec (2546 seconds)

Published: Fri Apr 26 2024