Real possession by devil not that common, exorcists say during lesson

Published: 2005-02-17

ROME (CNS) -- The devil is real and can possess people, but it does not happen as often as many people think, said two Italian exorcists. When a person who thinks he or she is possessed approaches a priest looking for help, they said, the priest must know enough about possession to know whether a simple prayer is called for or whether he needs to refer the person to a psychologist or to the diocesan exorcist. To prepare priests and future priests to help people in those situations, Rome's Regina Apostolorum university -- run by the Legionaries of Christ -- inaugurated a course on Satanism and exorcism Feb. 17. About 120 seminarians and priests -- most of whom are not full-time students at Regina Apostolorum -- signed up for the course. Journalists were invited to the first lesson.

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