UPDATE: John Allen over at NCR reports that the Vatican denies any involvement in “The Exorcist Files.” That’s a relief. I figured someone was definitely not in their right mind, though I didn’t think they were possessed.
I didn’t know Satan was a publicity hound, but he may get a lot of exposure if the Discovery Channel airs “The Exorcist Files,” which, according to EW.com via CNN, will recreate possible cases of demonic possession investigated by the Vatican–reportedly with the Vatican’s cooperation.
Wait a sec: Does anyone else think this is kind of a bad idea? I mean, bracketing whether you think demons actually possess people and things, I’m just not sure this is the face of Catholicism I want out there. And even if you believe in the possession thing, doesn’t this trivialize it a bit?
I’m not really feeling the renewed interest in exorcism, though many bishops and priests attended an “exorcism conference” just before the last bishops’ meeting. At the same time, I am intrigued enough to commission an article on the sudden newfound interest in demonic possession and/or demonic expulsion. I just don’t think it’s really at the heart of what it means to be Christian. (Yes, yes, I know Jesus cast out demons, but I’m not sure we’re talking about the same thing here…)
