Synod calls for exorcism study

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33563, 18 June 1974, Page 2

Synod calls for exorcism study

(New Zealand Press Association) NELSON, June 17. The Nelson Diocesan Synod has recommended that clergy and lay Church members study exorcism as part of the Church’s ministry of healing. It made the recommendation during its session on Saturday.

The resolution referred to a report of a commission on exorcism convened by an English bishop. Proposing the motion, the Archdeacon of Nelson (the Rev. P. M. Keith) said that some people denied the existence of the Devil, or the spirit of wickedness. To those people, he said, he asked: “Who is carrying on his work in view of the world situation?”

There was a great resurgence of interest in exorcism, and young people were concerned about it Only last week he had been asked to help a person who believed the family was under a curse.

Mr Keith said he had felt called upon to act. “There is a real and great pastor need. We must take the initiative. Forewarned is forearmed.” Mr A. C. Brown, of Richmond, said that there was a need to become aware of the influences of black magic, the occult, and witchcraft. Care had to be taken with exorcism, said Mr Brown. He had been involved in two cases, one with a building,

the other with a person. Exorcism involved releases of emotion from a person which could not be easily handled. Canon S. Anderson said that people said some things were caused by a difficult childhood, or adverse economic circumstances. It was

not popular to say there was a power of evil in a person’s life. But at a certain time in Hitler’s life, it was not wrong, nor misplaced policies, but the power of evil which was predominant. “The film, ‘The Exorcist,’ was a glorious end product of misplaced values," said Canon Anderson.