Priests: Hollywood depiction of exorcism not far from reality

With wizarding teens, talking dogs and families with superhero powers taking over the widescreen, Hollywood films have been known to stretch the truth just a little. Even less-family-oriented movies like the “Saw” and “Nightmare on Elm Street” series have taken evil to great extremes.

When it comes to depicting exorcism in films, though, much of what is shown on-screen is very similar to what really happens during the rare, highly confidential Catholic rite, said some priests.

With the release of “The Rite,” starring Anthony Hopkins, later this month, exorcism will again be in the spotlight.

“Some of the things that Hollywood has portrayed have been accurate,” the Rev. John Trigilio said by telephone from his parish in Harrisburg, Pa. Trigilio is president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and co-host of the weekly EWTN series “Web of Faith.”

For example, those afflicted with demonic possession express great physical strength and speak unknown languages in a voice that is not their own, he said.

Little is actually known about the rite of exorcism other than what priests learn during seminary, said Deacon David Montgomery of the Davenport Diocese. The rite itself is highly confidential and can only be performed by someone who is personally selected or approved by the diocesan bishop. No one within the diocese is generally aware of which priest or priests may be authorized, nor whether any calls seeking an exorcism have been received.

“People don't hear of the stories because it's a very confidential rite,” Montgomery said.

One priest within the Davenport diocese is authorized by the bishop to perform the rite, but even his identity is kept confidential for safety reasons, he said.

The exorcism is still very much a valid rite, priests say. It was first entered into the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 1614 and was renewed in 1998 by Pope John Paul II. It was renewed again in 2004.

The rite is so real, in fact, that a group of more than 100 priests and bishops met in a closed-door two-day workshop in Baltimore in November to learn more about the ancient practice (see related story on this page).

Bishop Thomas Paprocki, who organized the event, said pastors need some help discerning the difference between those who need an exorcist and those who only believe they do.

The goal of the workshop, he said, was to help clergy counsel people who believe they were possessed and refer them to a medical professional.

Montgomery said the rite has become more and more rare with the discovery of mental illness. Now, many cases of supposed possession turn out to be instances of mental illness, he said.

Though Hollywood may get some of it right, what isn't accurately displayed, Trigilio said, is the manner in which a person becomes a victim.

“There's never a case of an innocent person being possessed,” he said. “Somehow the possessed person has opened a door or a window (in themselves) to invite the demonic presence.”