Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!usc!apple!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: dragon!cms@gatech.edu Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: More demons and such Message-ID: Date: 9 Feb 90 07:19:34 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Computer Projects Unlimited Lines: 24 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu On demons again, I came across the following relevant passage in the Episcopal Book of Occasional Services (second edition): "Concerning Exorcism: The practice of expelling evil spirits by means of prayer and set formulas derives its authority from the Lord himself who identified these acts as signs of his messiahship. Very early in the life of the Church the development and exercise of such rites were reserved to the bishop, at whose discretion they might be delegated to selected presbyters and others deemed competent. "In accordance with this established tradition, those who find themselves in need of such a ministry should make the fact known to the bishop, thorugh their parish priest, in order that the bishop may determine whether exorcism is needed, who is to perform the rite, and what prayers or other formularies are to be used." It's interesting that our attitudes towards demons varies according to the century we're talking about. I wonder how many Episcopal priests would react to someone requesting an exorcism. Sending them to the local Bishop is probably a pretty good idea. Has anyone ever heard of an Episcopalian priest administering the rite of exorcism? gatech!ncsatl!smith_c