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You write about evil,
demons, and deliverance prayer on your website, so how can it be determined if someone is
actually possessed? Also, if someone is possessed, is that person morally culpable for sins
committed?
 irst of all, “possession” can be of two
natures. In one case, a demon possessing a person can control the person like a robot;
an extreme example of this was dramatically depicted in the movie The Exorcist.
Alternatively, a demon can possess a person by living in the person but not controlling
the person’s behavior.
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A demon living in a
person but not controlling the person’s behavior is actually a negative situation
that contrasts with a positive situation. In Galatians 2:20, Saint Paul said, “I live,
yet not I, but Christ lives in me.” That is, when we choose to live a holy lifestyle and
welcome Christ, He lives in us. But if we choose to live a sinful lifestyle, we welcome
demons, and they can live in us. |
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In either case, the only way to tell conclusively
if someone is possessed is for a priest exorcist to pray over the person. If there are
manifestations, then possession can be certain. These manifestations can range from behaviors
such as glaring hatred in the eyes, coughing, screaming, kicking, and vomiting, all the way to
extreme behaviors, such as levitations, superhuman strength, or a demon speaking through the
person.
If there are no manifestations in response to the
exorcist’s first prayers, then all that can be said is that the person currently shows no
signs of possession. But, because demons can hide themselves silently
from outward
detection,[1] it
is impossible to say conclusively that any person is not possessed. Nevertheless, with
persistent intense prayers over the course of several sessions, manifestations can occur.
Deliverance Prayer
If a person complains of troubling spiritual
symptoms, such as repeated sins despite repeated confessions,
two options should be considered. First, a
Catholic psychologist can be consulted to find
and resolve any unconscious conflicts behind the symptoms; for example, the symptoms could
be the result of angry ego states. A second option is for a
priest exorcist to be consulted, either after (or while) the person seeks psychological
treatment, or even directly if no Catholic psychologist is immediately available. In
either case, if the priest exorcist finds that no signs of possession are apparent, then
deliverance prayer should be pursued
relentlessly.
Furthermore, even if a priest exorcist is not
available for consultation, any priest should pursue deliverance prayer in an attempt to
help alleviate such troubling symptoms.
But, if deliverance prayer alone does not
provide relief, and if consultation with a Catholic psychologist has not been possible
or has not been able to provide relief, then possession can be suspected. Therefore, if
an exorcist is not available, then the only option is for the troubled person to take up
a lifestyle of heartfelt remorse, persistent prayer, sacrifice of pleasure-seeking
behaviors, and constant monitoring and rejection of disordered thoughts and
fantasies, all with the intent of living such a morally “boring” life that demons will
leave of their own will.
Moral Culpability
When a person commits a sin because a possessing
demon controls him or her, then he or she is not morally culpable for the sin.
But a demon can “possess” (i.e., “live in”) a
person as an internal parasite that only tempts, but does not control that person;
furthermore, demons can also oppress a person externally without actually possessing
that person internally. In either of these cases, such a person would be morally culpable for
any sins committed as a result of not resisting the demonic influence.
Granted, resisting demonic influence can be very
difficult, and that is why deliverance prayer is a necessary, and even compassionate,
recourse to be provided to that person. Still, all the sins committed under moral culpability
must be repented and confessed, and sincere penance must be undertaken, with the ultimate goal of
stopping the repetition of the sins and living a
holy lifestyle.
Notes
1. These are called abditi or “hidden demons.”
See Interview With An Exorcist, p. 78.
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