"The Return of Catholic Exorcism"

In a story for The Atlantic examining the Catholic rite of exorcism, Mathew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross, argues that the religious practice is gaining attention in the United States.  Schmalz explains that as the church population has grown, particularly through the immigrant population, there has been a return to the tradition of the religious exorcism.

Schmalz argues that the rise in interest in the practice is closely connected to an effort to revive interest in the priesthood.  "There is a feeling that priests' lack of specialness is among the reasons for a decline in interest in joining the priesthood," he says. "If a priest has the power to cast out demons, that's a lot of power."

Read The Atlantic story.



This 'Holy Cross in the News' item by Kristine Maloney.