Exorcisms Are On The Rise: Growing Fascination With The Occult
Ouija board séances, marathon-watching “Long Island Medium” and reading witchcraft books may be common teenage obsessions, but for one mother this was a cause for concern -- and for the Catholic Church, it may be the source of a growth industry in exorcisms.
Last week, in an advice column in the online Catholic magazine Crux, an anonymous mother asked whether her child’s occult interests could lead to “black lipstick and Satan worship” in the future.
Whoever this young girl is, she is not alone. Films like the recent blockbuster hit “Ouija,” ghost-hunting "reality" TV shows and even the Harry Potter books have made magic mainstream. While the advice columnist told the mother that her daughter’s activities are most likely harmless, Catholic exorcists see the situation differently....