From Hollywood horror flicks to hushed church lore whispered about in the pews, exorcism has always lived at the edge of many churchgoers’ imaginations. The ritual is both feared and fascinated over, dismissed by skeptics yet kept alive by believers who insist that evil is more than metaphor.
The Catholic rite, in which a priest authorized by the Vatican expels a demon from a possessed individual, has long been shrouded in mystery, known to most only through the lurid exaggerations of late-night horror films.
Now, a new report reveals something very real. Requests for exorcisms are rising across the United States, and people want to know why.
Exorcisms Rising
CNN recently contacted all 196 Catholic dioceses and archdioceses in the United States to inquire about rates of exorcisms. Of the 48 that responded, 25 dioceses – over 50% – reported an increase in recent years for exorcism requests. 15 locations reported no increase, and 8 said they didn’t keep data on exorcism requests.
CNN Senior Correspondent David Culver spoke with an anonymous priest authorized to perform exorcisms since 1999, who claims that there had been a “surge” in exorcism requests in recent years, explaining that there were “three to five” requests every “one to three months” when he started. Now, he says, there are three to five requests every single week.
A Brief History of Exorcism
For nearly as long as people have believed in the divine, they’ve also believed in forces that oppose it, and the Christian practice of exorcism grew from that ancient tension. Christianity came of age in a time ripe with mystical healers, temple rites, and protective charms, and so, inspired by Jesus’ performance of the rite of exorcism in the Holy Bible, Christians distinguished themselves by casting out devils and demons explicitly in His name.
For centuries, the rite of exorcism was often improvised, looking closer to local folk magic than what we might think of today. That changed with the Roman Ritual of 1614, which standardized exorcism practices in Catholicism, laying out exactly how a priest should prepare, what prayers to say, what signs to look for, and how to proceed if the situation escalated.
Related: An Exorcist Explains the Demonic
Even as skepticism rose in the Enlightenment and modern science offered new explanations for unusual behavior, exorcism never disappeared. The Catholic Church performs them even today, though Vatican officials deem them exceptionally rare and priests must still rule out mental illness, drug use, or other explanations for the possession.
More recently, there's been a public clash over who has proper authority to perform the delicate practice, as "rogue" exorcists compete with Catholic officials.
What Does This Signal?
Whatever the cause in the rising exorcism requests, the renewed uptick in exorcism requests is reflecting something quintessentially 21st century. The question is… what?
Are these increases a sign of growing spiritual anxiety in a world where science has explained away much of what was once believed mystical? A response to cultural polarization and uncertainty, driven by our always-online lives? Or simply the result of more public conversation about a practice once kept firmly behind church doors?
Whatever the cause, the renewed interest suggests that many Americans are turning to spiritual frameworks – and ancient ones, at that – to make sense of modern fears. And whether one views exorcism as literal battle, symbolic ritual, or a pastoral response to profound suffering, it’s clear the rite continues to occupy a unique (and growing) place in the American religious imagination.
As exorcism re-enters the cultural mainstream, what does that say about us: our fears, our faith, and the stories we choose to believe? And why do you think more Americans are seeking exorcisms?
11 comments
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Nicholas J Page
The only demons that exist are drink drugs and unhealthy living watching too many films and tv that shows people possessed I doubt Exorcism works im 67 and this was never heard of at the time especially in the UK
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Reverend Paula Copp
Religion is the pablum of the masses, but if it helps people get through their daily lives then it seems worthwhile. Of course, those who watch shows like “the Dead Files” and “Secrets of the Paranormal” are probably more prone to “needing” an exorcism, and if that’s what it takes to make themselves feel better, then it’s none of my business.
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
Although science does explain a lot it doesn't explain everything. Even when it explains something "supernatural" humans deny the data. Example: ghost not all but some "ghost" have been proven by science to exist, as in the recurrence of a event such as a war battle. It's learned that the Earths magnet field acts like a VHS tape and recorded the event and at certain times it plays it back. But that doesn't exclude the demons and ghost scriptures mention. And when Yeshua the Messiah exercise a demon He simply said "get out" and they left He and the Disciples didn't have long drawn out rituals that the Catholic Church has. In Hollywood not one movie shows a Minister of another "Christian" faith doing an exercism it's always a "Catholic Priest" that is called on or they try fighting the demon with magic that got them in trouble too begin with. Scripturally Yeshua the Messiah exercised two different entities unclean spirits and Phantoms (demons). The Greek terms are clearly not the same. Phantoms which the disciples exclamation on the boat "it's a phantom!" Is an evil demon not a spirit of a dead person. Yeshua did not correct them that such creatures did not exist therefore they do exist. Later when Yeshua the Messiah return from the grave they called him a Ghost/Spirit and he said "what do spirits need with flesh and bones. I'm hungry where's the fish?" Again telling us these creatures do exist. If you believe that the scriptures are true. To answer the question asked of this blog, "why the increase of exercism ?" Because there is an increase in evil in the world. Humans have noticed even if they don't admit it. Science is stumped and people are returning to the old school remedy... Supernatural. Hollywood doesn't help.
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Lionheart
Bless your heart, Miche’al, you’ll be saying next that Science has finally proved there really is a God. 🤭
“ The overwhelming consensus of science is that there is no proof that ghosts exist. Their existence is impossible to falsify, and ghost hunting has been classified as pseudoscience. Despite centuries of investigation, there is no scientific evidence that any location is inhabited by the spirits of the dead.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
The earth is some sort of VHS recorder/player with a hardcdrive? That's a new one.
Hockey dookey.
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Paul Johnson
Read the Bible it clearly states that in the last day's these things will increase. The Devil hasn't gone to sleep he is very busy. People being possessed will steadily increase as we continue to want to be like god. Nothing more than selfishness, pride, bitterness, hate, addiction to drugs and alchol thinking right thinking is wrong and wrong thinking is right. It's not a game the enemy is real and he wants to win at any cost. Let's fuss and fight argue and play gotcha games. Who do you think is orchestrating this plan? You got it.
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Lionheart
Yes, read the Bible and believe in Adam and Eve, and a talking Snake, and a talking Ass, and even a Unicorn. And if you want to go that extra length, believe that a girl, possibly 13 or 14 years of age, became miraculously impregnated by a deity, and her boyfriend not only didn’t mind, he actually believed it (could have been a Democrat 🤭). I’d love to know what her parents thought. Did they go for it as well? 🤷 Then there was that man that people actually believe turned water into a wonderful fruity aged Merlot, or was it possibly a Cabernet? 🤔
Anyway, read the Bible and let’s see if you also get taken in by it all. You might want to skip Songs of Solomon, it’s a bit rude and naughty, unless you are into that sort of thing, and also try and skip the genocidal bits by a supposed deity.
From my perspective, the Harry Potter books are a better read, especially for children, but don’t take my word for it, see what you think. Both are very interesting books of fiction.
Thanks for your suggestion Paul. 🤗
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Robin Anne Hannon
If people are taking moral and spiritual responsibility, then exorcism probably is not needed. It comes from delving into things that open a door. For example, the Ouija board is not a game, but it's sold as one. Playing with that would open a door. There are many ways a door could be open, but the question is if this is a mental issue, emotional issue, spiritual issue, etc. Unless you are a professional exorcist my advice is pray from a distance.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Whenever I encounter a potential exorcism candidate, I offer to ordain them into the ULC, then inform the new ULC minister that now they can not only “self-exorcise” but can exorcise their home at the same time. If they still want me to preform the exorcism (because, as a ULC minister— I’m also Saint, and a Bishop) there’s no charge, only expenses if there are any.
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Lionheart
Obviously, witchcraft rituals still exist, even woven into Christianity. It’s amazing what people like to believe is true that they have convinced themselves is real. It’s basically the mental illness of religion. Catholicism is possibly the worst of them, led by a man wearing a white dress that believes he's above everyone else.
Look how people believe holding a metal cross up to their forehead will help them. Presumably, if Jesus had been stoned to death he’d be holding a rock up to her forehead, or if hanging was used back then he’d be holding a noose up to her forehead and people would be wearing a noose around their necks instead of a cross. Thank goodness there was no firing squad back in those days, people would be wearing a bullet, or a miniature rifle, around their necks. 🤭
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This firmly science-based MD/psychologist/ULC minister readily acknowledges how complex and often not understandable is the human psyche. Exorcism does sometimes change a persons's behavior. Both within and without the realms of religion we witness other behavior altering practices which aren't readily explained. Consider blessings, prayers, confession and contrition, homeopathic medicine, the placebo effect, sudden conversions, faith healing. Hopefully these practices don't displace conventional therapy or effective medical treatment. But if the outcome for the individual is favorable who are we to judge?