Ritual of exorcism

Question from teo on 1/7/2008:

Why some catholic priests don't practice or don't support the ritual of exorcism. Do they still have to get permission from the Vatican to do this?

Thanks.

Answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL on 1/10/2008:

Frankly, some priests don't beleive in the devil, or believe that he doesn't or can't possess people. This has been widely propagated by Notre Dame's Fr. Richard McBrien, who regularly ridicules such belief. In an ycase, the existence of the devil is a teaching of the Church which is heretical to deny, and that he can possess people is shown by Christ Himself in the Gospels.

To conduct an exorcism, a priest must get the approval of the bishop, not the Vatican. In some places, bishops have appointed one or more exorcists to deal with widespread demonic ativity. This is especially true in Europe, where Satanism and the occult seems to be more active than in North America. I say "seems<' but the reality is that he is active everywhere. As St. Peter taught,

1 Peter 5:8-10 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.