Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: burt@sequent.uucp (Burton Keeble) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Exorcism on 20/20 tonight, Friday 5 May 1991 Message-ID: Date: 17 Apr 91 04:24:34 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc Lines: 31 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu [Bob Vaughan commented on a Nightline show about exorcism. --clh] Nightline. There was nothing in the demonstration that would convert the skeptic, or at least persuade the skeptic that deamon possession was at issue. The only thing that I witnessed which was somewhat eerie was the girl's voice when one of the "deamons" (there were supposed to be 10) spoke. The girl was on heavy medication before the event, and after the event, as part of her psychological treatment. She claims to have been rid of the deamons, but her credibility is suspect because of her disorder. There was a good controversy on Nightline between two Catholic priests. One had assisted at the event; the other was the President of Notre Dame. The latter gave very good reasons why the performance did a great disservice to the church (which is famous for a lot of hocus pocus -apparitions, bleeding statues, and the like). The attending priest also made a good statement, quoting the author of the "Song of Bernadette": For the non-believer, no explaination is possible; for the believer, no explaination is necessary." Frankly, I was really disappointed. I think ABC was using sensationalism to capture a viewer rating. The performance wasn't any more convincing than some of the spiritual healings of witchdoctors that I have viewed on tv documentaries. -burt Reply to burt@sequent.sequent.com