The Vatican is denying a report that it plans to assemble exorcism-conducting squads, ready to be sent around the world to meet rising demand. A Vatican University priest, Paolo Scarafoni (Gabriele Amorth in one account), has spoken to the press:
Vatican chiefs... have introduced courses for priests to combat what they call the most extreme form of "Godlessness."
Each bishop is to be told to have in his diocese a number of priests trained to fight demonic possession.
The initiative was revealed by 82-year-old Father Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican "exorcistinchief," to the online Catholic news service Petrus.
"Thanks be to God, we have a Pope who has decided to fight the Devil head-on," he said.
In a rapid response, the Vatican demurs:
"Pope Benedict XVI has no intention of ordering local bishops to bring in garrisons of exorcists to fight demonic possession,'' Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told reporters in Rome Friday.
"garrisons"? Interesting word choice, suggesting defense, rather than offense. Conjures up images of priests behind walls, protecting cities from demonic hordes.
This is apparently the same Vatican University where one campus launched a "defense against the dark arts" class in 2005.
EDITED TO ADD: wifey points out that father Arnoth described the previous pope performing an exorcism at St. Peter's.
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