Noted Italian exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth, commented this week that the recent defamatory reporting on Pope Benedict XVI, especially by the New York Times, was “prompted by the devil.”
Speaking to News Mediaset in Italy, the 85-year-old exorcist noted that the devil is behind “the recent attacks on Pope Benedict XVI regarding some pedophilia cases.”
“There is no doubt about it. Because he is a marvelous Pope and worthy successor to John Paul II, it is clear that the devil wants to ‘grab hold’ of him.”
Father Amorth added that in instances of sexual abuse committed by some members of the clergy, the devil “uses” priests in order to cast blame upon the entire Church: “The devil wants the death of the Church because she is the mother of all the saints.”
“He combats the Church through the men of the Church, but he can do nothing to the Church."
73 comments
Priests ought to be extra protected from attacks from the Devil, one would think.
How come the Church is so quick to suppress any evidence of child abuse, and equally quick to forgive the priests.
The Church in Connecticut is opposing a removal of the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases.http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/11/connecticut.abuse.bill/index.html?hpt=T1
Where the hell do these people come up with this stuff?
No matter what group you are, statistically, the larger your group the more chance you'll have for there to be someone who fucks up, or in this case fucks someone.
"the recent defamatory reporting on Pope Benedict XVI was “prompted by the devil.”"
Really? I thought it was prompted by Ratzinger's attempted cover-up of child abuse by members of the church he now heads, silly me.
What more can be expected from someone who has made a career as a priest and an exorcist? He is utterly self-delusional (he claims to have performed over 70 000 exorcisms, and honestly believes that The Exorcist was a documentary), and hopelessly dependent upon a system of lies and fantasies for his existence.
I don't believe the 70,000 exorcisms for one moment.
And what ever happened to the pronciple that responsibility stops only at the top man's desk?
Certainly if the Devil were at work, he/she is working through the Catholic Bishops and Canon Law, which are both responsible for covering up criminal action. Indeed, criminal law in many countries makes if a crime to fail to report another's criminal act.
The church in Ireland is presently falling over itself to carry a cross of its own making. But there are many who doubt the sincerity of so little so late. As an institution it has always sought to guard and protect itself as its prime raison d'etre. This is why the tears of remorse it is now weeping are seen as being crocodilian .
As to Father Amorth, he seems in denial of what happened, and this in itself is an indication that no matter what the church may say along the lines of seeking forgiveness, nothing it says or does can be regarded as sincere. They either do not or cannot admit to themselves, or accept, their guilt. So their public words are worthless, and forgiveness cannot be given until the present haughtiness and hypocrisy is clearly shown to be acknowledged and cast out of the institutions existence. Until then, they remain guilty and lacking in remorse in the eyes of all with any good sense. And this applies from the humblest seminarian to the lofty heights of the papacy.
But if it involves the Pope, who's the leader of nearly 1/6th of the world's population, then that by virtue of itself casts blame upon the whole church. Besides, that still doesn't explain why priests went around raping kids; you'd think priests would have extra holy protection...and stuff.
Not only child rapists crawl within the church, but also psychotic.
Really, the roman catholic church must be disbanded for the sake of mankind
Yeah, the news reports were prompted by the devil. The pedophilia cases had absolutely nothing to do with it.
“There is no doubt about it. Because he is a marvelous Pope and worthy successor to John Paul II, it is clear that the devil wants to grab hold’ of him.”
I hope it's in the same way a pedophile priest wants to "grab hold" of an altar boy.
This sounds a lot like when possession was used to explain hormonal "urges" in adolescents back in the middle ages.
Nice to see the catholic church still thinks like it's in 1010 rather than 2010. Fitting, seeing as that's exactly where the church itself belongs.
And if pedophilia were a good thing, would it be God's will? You guys never take credit/blame for your own actions, do you? No True Priest would be so sexually crazed that he would bugger a little boy, would he? Ego te absolvo! Now fuck off.
(edit) Can't resist.
"THE BODY OF CHRIS COMPELS YOU! THE BODY OF CHRIS COMPELS YOU! THE BODY OF CHRIS COMPELS YOU!"
Well, when one starts from the presumption that the Pope is infallible, what other cause could there be for such reporting but that Satan wants to make the Church look bad? I mean, really, what other explanation could there be?
"Noted Italian exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Oh, that was a good one. Oh, wait, they're serious. :(
This is iron-age feudalism speaking.
"We will sell you an imaginary cure for an imaginary malady of our own design. All we ask is your tithe, your soul, and your total unquestioning love for us because we are so much more beautiful than that imaginary malady, are we not?"
The issue isn't what made the priests molest children. If someone wants to believe the priest was prompted by some imaginary demon, as opposed to having some other sexual dysfunction, there's probably no practical difference. The issue is why responsible church officials, up to and including possibly, Cardinal Ratzinger, covered it up and didn't put a stop to it or report it to the police. Is Father Gabriele suggesting the devil forced the Catholic Church to make that decision? I'm not sure that's not an even worse condemnation of the church. After all, he seems to be implying "we weren't just a bunch of cowards who covered up our dirty laundry - the Catholic Church is infected by Satan!" Jack Chick will have a field day with that one.
Wow, all of the work Pope John Paul II did to try to bring the Catholic Church into the modern age has been undone with one comment.
How about just admitting that ALL priests are human beings and some could have joined the priesthood just to mess with kids already!
Certainly, just like Father Amorth, many Catholic priests are doing the Devil's work, just like Father Amorth, many Catholic priests are devilish fiends. I expect that many Catholic Fathers seem like diabolical and incestuous demons from the lowest reaches of hell in the minds of many of their victims.
Of course, it is not only Catholics who abuse children, but Catholics have a poor track record in combating the Devil. The Devil, a measly and wimpish tosspot that even I, a humble and not very tough atheist can easily subdue. Huh! Satan. What a wanker. The Devil, easily bested by me and all other atheists that I know, but triumphant over a vast and powerful organization, wealthy beyond compare, with just the merest flick of his finger.
Blame the devil.
Always compare any bad reports of the Church to Jews and Nazi Germany. Ensure the Church are compared to the Jews and not the Nazis.
NEVER EVER ADMIT THAT THE CHURCH DOES ANYTHING WRONG.
This papal is Vatican Law as signed by Pope Been-A-Dick the XVI.
Whatever happened to personal responsibility?
It's what has been going on with the coverups and the pedophile-sheltering done by the Catholic Church that has made me stop attending Mass. I haven't been in a church since 2005 and until the Church cleans up its act, I likely will never return.
And if the heads of the Church don't like us wanting answers: We will stop probing the Church, when your priests stop probing our kids.
And this is part of the reason why I left Christianity entirely. Seriously, I can't stand having someone preach at me when they themselves aren't going to live by what they preach and won't take responsibility for their actions (like, you know, an adult would).
The main reason, though, was that I realized that I just don't believe in Jesus as the messiah. I think it's possible that he existed, but as a man, not a deity. A man with some very good advice, mind you. Too bad so many Christians choose not to take some of that advice.
“He combats the Church through the men of the Church, but he can do nothing to the Church."
So, the Church doesn't consist of its members, but of... what? The statues? The incense? The collection plates? Silly me, of course it's the collection plates.
Wow, does even he actually believe that BS? He might, but I doubt it. Probably just a cover for the still-faithful in the 3rd World.
I'd link to the "Smells like BS" picture, but we don't have those "What to say when you don't know what to say" pictures anymore on the site...do we?
This guy has been critisised twice, at least, by two bishops because he sees the Devil everywhere. You know, when you have free will, you have free will with all its consequences.
Thanks for informing us. So...if the debil "uses" priests ...then we can be forewarned that priest should not be spiritual advisors in any manner. They are of the debil. So we should quit listening to them, confessing to them, etc.
Yeah... tell that devil bullshit to the little boy who has probably already "confessed" to this "marvelous pope" that had "grabbed hold" of him. Im sure that little boy feels differently. JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE RELIGIOUS DOESNT MEAN YOU ARE SAFE OR SANE TO BE APART OF THE REST OF THE WORLD AND DONT HAVE ANY HEAD ISSUES AND SICK FANTASIES. Guess only the law and the courts will settle this one and give him a fair trial. We shall see....
*sigh* I am so tired of this 'holier than thou' bullshit ... the argument is stale cookies.
#1146219
The main reason, though, was that I realized that I just don't believe in Jesus as the messiah. I think it's possible that he existed, but as a man, not a deity. A man with some very good advice, mind you. Too bad so many Christians choose not to take some of that advice.
This is why I am Gnostic. I too believe Jesus was a man... not a god-man. A demi god... or God himself. Just a man... with a good heart.. a strong spirit... a loving nature... liberal views... and was on the path to "enlightenment" and he merely wanted others to be openminded and to see that path.
To make their own way on it... he was the compass to guide their ships to port. He wasnt sent by God as people say he was "sent by God" nor was he the "son of God" after all he said this to show we are ALL sons (and duaghters) of God. He was merely one of them on the path to enlightenment so he could go to that resting place after death or the "heavenly kingdom" as most described.
There is some truth but it got warped over time by people whos ideas and beliefs shadowed over it and made it into something it wasnt. I have studied this for months now... searching... and finally it makes sense to me... but I cannot stand all these other biggoted, hypocritical, uncomprehending douchebags taking the "great teacher of enlightenment" and making him into the "holy and infallible son of God and redeemer of all mankind."
He didnt want everyone to follow him and worship him like they say... he merely wanted to open peoples eyes to the truths of loving thy neighbor...feeding the poor... housing the homeless... and loving God which is "the truth and the light and the way to enlightenment."
This makes a lot of sense if you look at it this way finding the pearls of truth in all the muck of heresay and religious fantasies.
Yes, because none of this bad press would have been made because the Catholic church protected their kiddie - fiddling padres. Nah, must be because of a cherry red fallen angel with bat - wings, horns and a cute little pitchfork. Much more logical explanation!
If there was a God and a Devil the devil would be kicking God's ass right now.
How the hell do you let your own pawns get infected by the enemy's pawns? How the hell can you be the most powerful pers... oh I get it. This is opposite day isn't it? This must be opposite day.
I bet a priest can go out and kill someone http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/11/national/main1610624.shtml?source=RSS&attr=U.S._1610624
and they'll say "possessed by the devil" and then go on about how perfect their religion is. Anyone who actually breaks a rule is no true scottsma... er... christian and is "possessed by the devil". It must be great being able to shift the blame by bringing up the devil instead of owning up and admitting YOUR BELIEF IS NOT PERFECT! The followers of your belief is not perfect, and you are not perfect.
Maybe if you stop holding up that shiny mirror and actually looked into it every once in awhile you'd realize that...
Or more probably, as your medieval predecessors, FUNNYLY, understood much better than you, they were perfectly aware of their accions and they did know that there would be people like you with excuses like this. Besides, wasn´t Benedict himself the one who spilt the beans?
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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