As someone who works in a ministry with a priest who has faced the evil one and seen the power of GOD win, I thank Father Lampert for giving his testimony that there is a GOD of love who defeats the "old boy". Constant prayer - our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings offered to GOD, joined with fasting in any way, will always bring our angels to the battle. I ask that each person reading this comment offer an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the protection of Father Lampert, all those in deliverance ministry, and in this year of the priest, for the protection of all priests.

As someone who works in a ministry with a priest who has faced the evil one and seen the power of GOD win, I thank Father Lampert for giving his testimony that there is a GOD of love who defeats the "old boy". Constant prayer - our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings offered to GOD, joined with fasting in any way, will always bring our angels to the battle. I ask that each person reading this comment offer an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the protection of Father Lampert, all those in deliverance ministry, and in this year of the priest, for the protection of all priests.

I'm a believer. I'm a Catholic. I believe in the esistence of evil. I used to go to Mass at Newman but it seems that after Msgr. Swetland left all we hear about is evil and how bad we are on campus. I know evil exists. But, I'd rather be hearing about the Good too. With all do respect to Msgr. Ketcham, you seem to focus too much God's wrath and condemnation. I stopped going there because frankly I got sick of hearing the constant "do not's" and very little of the "do's." You assume too much, there's a lot more good going on throughout the campus than you give credit for and it extends beyond Newman and beyond Catholics. So, give us some credit and teach us how to live the faith rather than telling me how evil I am and a bad person and perhaps then I'll go back to your church.

All Bishops are required to appoint an exorcist--A bishop commits a serious sin if he doesn't. However the identity of the exorcist is kept secret for understandable reasons.

This article says there are 12 exorcists in the USA who were trained in Rome--but that does NOT mean that they are the only exorcists in the USA !

How sad is it that at the same time one is reading an article about the Catholic church (http://bit.ly/D6wtY) that an advertisement for Planned Parenthood appears. I hope and pray that the students of the University of Illinois are smart enough to know the truth about PP.

Nice ad for Planned Parenthood right next to this article. One step forward, one step back.

Father's words remind me of the Pope's words: We must exorcise the world by prayer and by penance. First internal penance or repentance, second sacramental penance or Confession, and third external penance or signs of repentance, of a heart turned from evil to goodness, to God (fasting, sacrifice, almsgiving, etc.).

It's so wonderful to see these holy priests accept the 'cross' of the Exorcist! But only 12 priests in the whole USA? Wow! No wonder the evil one is running rampant in our culture! But then, we are living in the "culture of death". Right next to this article there is a "Planned Parenthood" advertisement offering "$10.00 off". Off what???

I will certainly keep these priests in my prayers. I'm a retired psych nurse & i've seen the evil one operate up close & personal. That's the hardest thing to do, to try to convince people this evil not only exists, it's personal!!!!

Unfortunately many of the Catholic hierarchy in the USA are still reluctant to appoint excorcists within their Dioceses, althjough this is slowly changing. Catholic excorsists are much more common it the Western European countries and also in Latin America, as the understanding of the demonic and the practices of the exorcist are much more accepted in these countries..

Recently there was an excellent series of 3 articles published on the internet about exorcisms, with an interview with an Italian excorcist priest named Alfred Pallotta. The series of articles was very informative. For those interested it is located here: http://www.stgemmagalgani.com/2009/05/exorcisms-intercession-of-st-gemma.html

Joseph Johnson USA

Please take some responsibility. We don't need more priests helping us to feel good about our sin. We need priests who speak the Truth, and the truth is, in this day and age, most of us need many reminders of our weakness and how we can turn from sin. Sin is rampant. We can easily feel good about ourselves by comparing ourselves to those around us. But God is the same and so is His Truth. I, for once, WANT to be reminded to turn from evil. It doesn't offend me in the least.

"For one to become possessed by the devil, one has to have a dedication to the devil, be cursed or lead a life that is full of sin; it is something more than just a struggle against temptation," Lampert said.

This is actually not correct. There are numerous cases, including a recent one attended to by a priest who has done exorcisms for 5 years, where the possessed individual did not lead a life of sin but rather was in a state of grace and was still possessed. God can allow possession to happen to someone who lives a good life in order to obtain reparation for sins committed in a certain area.

I don't know how many cases this priest faces but he obviously has not been around the block yet. He of course needs lots of prayer to carry out this ministry, because us laymen would quail at facing fallen angels without the Church's protection, yet most exorcists trained today do not have all the training and support they need to be truly affective.

The point is there is not enough exorcist priests Wenner. I've been to a home an I know of a women whom is possessed.and needs an exorcist priest. I am not kidding.

As a trained exorcist too in Rome I agree the most important thing to avoid evil is respecting our ten commendements, good life and prayer. But at the same time we are oblige to tell peple that satan is a real person, not just a 'thing' and Jesus talk about him several times in the Gospel. Pope Bnedict said that "Today we have a lot of priests that doesn't think lke a catholics any more but like protestants". That gives a lot of confussion for the ones that are lookingfor distinction between true and false. But one day the words of Fatima will be accomplish: "At the end my immaculate heart will triumph". mdasanjose@hotmail.com

Go to the Holy Sacrifice not for a sermon but for Jesus Christ. If you do this, even if the sermon is terrible, you will joyful, for your joy will be in Jesus and He will make you full of His Joy.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host - by the Divine Power of God - cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits, who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

The novena rosary prayed and recited daily will certainly grant you protection from both spiritual and earthly enemies in this life and deliver you from all evil!

I think that this is a bunch of crap i dont believe this ****

Also, regular confession is also a great sacrament to recieve regularly. That way, we receive the Eucharist with a clean conscience and pure heart. Sometimes we feel guilty because we have unconfessed sin on our heart or because we are scrupulous. A priest can help you get to the heart of the problem in confession and absolve us...you can't beat that!

I would like to invite the author of "Newman and Evil Topics" to meet with me and talk. As a member of the Church who is upset with something, please do not leave the Church. However, look for those avenues to change what you are dissatisfied with. I would be very happy to speak with you!

I strongly recommend reading, Evidence of Satan in the Modern World, and the more recent books by Fr. Amorth, An Exorcist Tells His Story, and, An Exorcist: More Stories. You will then have all the knowledge you need. Remember the maxim that you must know yourself and your enemy to win. The devil prefers us to believe he doesn't exist, because it makes his work easier. The signs of possession indicated in the article are dramatic cases that mean the poor soul has probably suffered the possession for many years. We need to catch the attacks much sooner to help these souls.

I believe that the Devil can take control of a person but I believe in the power of the Priest and God to release them from him. It was in the time of Christ that he was always casting out Demons read the Bible and even in the old testament also. Thank God in Jesus name that we have exorcsit

I believe that the Devil can take control of a person but I believe in the power of the Priest and God to release them from him. It was in the time of Christ that he was always casting out Demons read the Bible and even in the old testament also. Thank God in Jesus name that we have exorcsit

I am sad to hear you say your sick of hearing about the bad and do's and dont;s but every where Ive gone I never hear that kinda talk. In fact they act as if every thing we do is ok! Well I wish our Priest would give us this kinda of talk because sometimes alot lately and look at the world, they are afraid to say anything. So the state of the world and sin is worse because of silence, and we do not need silence. Look my friend turn on the tv and see what is going on, should he keep silent or try to save people from the Devil. Maybe it has touched a sore spot in you? I dont know but if it did then be glad because you can face it and heal. I am not at all perfect and I only wish someone would step up and say these things at my church to help me and others. God Bless

Offensive as you are, I'm right there with you in that I don't agree. The sad truth is that I am a Catholic - I simply don't agree with the idea of an exorcist. Part of this stems from my personal experience, or lack thereof; I have not personally witnessed nor "felt the presence" of any sort of supernatural force in my life. I could easily attribute my own emotions and experiences to the supernatural, but that would be irresponsible given a better, reasonable explanation. It isn't that I don't believe in forces above and beyond my control, I would just rather eliminate all possibilities beforehand.

I apologize if I come off as a bit of a prick, but I think too critically to believe that Satan/a demon/a devil is going to randomly inhabit my body and have me spasm and convulse at the sign of holy objects. Wouldn't a demon have more destructive things to do than make me sit in a corner and drool all day? Maybe a demon is making me type this message - you don't know. And neither do I. Maybe I am the demon himself. I wouldn't have a clue either way, so I just chalk it up to ignorance and go through my day to day.

For me, the core message of Christ - love one another as you love yourself - has absolutely nothing to do with the supernatural and has everything to do with the people around you. Why we devote enough time and effort to make a career out of demon-hunting is beyond me, and if you asked me on the spot, I'd probably tell you that "possessed" individuals are either attention-hungry people in need of a good audience or mentally unstable people in need of a good rubber room. People with faith have better things to do than chase ghosts.

Fr. Lampert said that one can be cursed...OR live a life of sin. There are people who are in a state of grace but cursed. Fr. Lampert does not disagree with you. However, I am happy that you clarified the fact that often times one can live a life of grace, be untouched in his or her soul, but still be possessed in his or her body. God allows evil to be evident so as to manifest His power and goodness more clearly. Pray and do penance for such souls and for the priests who care for them!