Rarity of Possession
A very common misconception about exorcisms is that many people, especially skeptics and those not of faith, believe that Catholics are going around declaring people are possessed by demons because they are showing unusual and bizarre behavior. This would be false. There is a lot a priest must consider before declaring that a person is demonically possessed and in most cases, a priest, is the biggest skeptic because demonic possession is such a rare act to take place. More times than not, there are natural explanations as to why a person may be acting the way they are.
When reading the CNN Belief Blog "Catholic Clergy Confer on Exorcism Rite" you can find an exorcist's evidence on the rarity of possession and exorcisms. "In his 25 years in ministry [Bishop Paprocki - ex chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois] has never seen an exorcism and said demonic possession is rare and extraordinary. In his time processing the administrative requests he said, 'I'm not aware of a formal exorcism while I was there.' But he said there has been an increase in requests since he left and the Archdiocese of Chicago has since appointed an exorcist" (qtd. in Marrapodi). Another priest and one of the most renowned exorcists in the United States – Father Gary Thomas – also showcases the rarity of possession. "Thomas emphasizes the rarity of possession, noting that he only exorcized five people in five years. More than 80 percent of the people who come to him need therapy, not an exorcist" (Burke).
During an interview for the online article, "Casting Out Demons: Pope Francis Declares Support for Exorcisms," Father Dwight Longenecker, a priest who is not a licensed exorcist, at Our Lady the Rosary in Greenville, South Carolina stated "exorcism is a 'highly unusual ministry for a situation in the human condition, which is quite rare, but it's growing in frequency'" (qtd. in Lewis). Sociologist, Michael Cuneo, supports this statement in "They're baaack! What's behind the return of the exorcist," by stating "in the latter half of John Paul's papacy, the number of official exorcists in the United States ballooned from 1 to 19...The number has grown to about 30 under Benedict" (qtd. in Burke).
This rising in requests can cause a problem and some priests are concerned about the rising numbers of claims from people declaring to be demonically possessed. "The reality is there really have not been regular courses, or even a class, on how to do [exorcisms] because it is a rare thing.The work of the devil possessing someone is a rare thing. It's not part of the daily practices of a priest" says Paprocki (qtd. in Marrapodi). Therefore, a surplus of priests from diocese all over the United States have come together to learn more about the ancient ritual within the Catholic Church. "Bishops and priests have to be sharp on the rules of this rarely used rite" (Marrapodi). Otherwise, this can cause serious dangers for both themselves and the person they are trying to help.
When reading the CNN Belief Blog "Catholic Clergy Confer on Exorcism Rite" you can find an exorcist's evidence on the rarity of possession and exorcisms. "In his 25 years in ministry [Bishop Paprocki - ex chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois] has never seen an exorcism and said demonic possession is rare and extraordinary. In his time processing the administrative requests he said, 'I'm not aware of a formal exorcism while I was there.' But he said there has been an increase in requests since he left and the Archdiocese of Chicago has since appointed an exorcist" (qtd. in Marrapodi). Another priest and one of the most renowned exorcists in the United States – Father Gary Thomas – also showcases the rarity of possession. "Thomas emphasizes the rarity of possession, noting that he only exorcized five people in five years. More than 80 percent of the people who come to him need therapy, not an exorcist" (Burke).
During an interview for the online article, "Casting Out Demons: Pope Francis Declares Support for Exorcisms," Father Dwight Longenecker, a priest who is not a licensed exorcist, at Our Lady the Rosary in Greenville, South Carolina stated "exorcism is a 'highly unusual ministry for a situation in the human condition, which is quite rare, but it's growing in frequency'" (qtd. in Lewis). Sociologist, Michael Cuneo, supports this statement in "They're baaack! What's behind the return of the exorcist," by stating "in the latter half of John Paul's papacy, the number of official exorcists in the United States ballooned from 1 to 19...The number has grown to about 30 under Benedict" (qtd. in Burke).
This rising in requests can cause a problem and some priests are concerned about the rising numbers of claims from people declaring to be demonically possessed. "The reality is there really have not been regular courses, or even a class, on how to do [exorcisms] because it is a rare thing.The work of the devil possessing someone is a rare thing. It's not part of the daily practices of a priest" says Paprocki (qtd. in Marrapodi). Therefore, a surplus of priests from diocese all over the United States have come together to learn more about the ancient ritual within the Catholic Church. "Bishops and priests have to be sharp on the rules of this rarely used rite" (Marrapodi). Otherwise, this can cause serious dangers for both themselves and the person they are trying to help.