Catholic Church Seeks Exorcists

Do you have a knack for battling Satan? The Catholic Church may have just the job for you. With just five or six of US priests capable of performing an exorcism and demand for exorcisms rising as Catholics who hail from countries where the rite doesn't evoke head-spinning immigrate to the US, a group of bishops and priests are attending an emergency meeting in Baltimore this weekend for some training. The curriculum reportedly includes pointers on how to tell if somebody is possessed, reports the New York Post.

"Learning the liturgical rite is not difficult," says on archbishop. "The problem is the discernment that the exorcist needs before he would ever attempt the rite." So, what, exactly, does an exorcism entail? First, a priest must look for the telltale signs of demons, such as a violent reaction to holy water, super strength, or aversion to the name of Jesus or Mary. They also must determine if you are simply mentally ill. Then, during the exorcism, the priest banishes demons by "sprinkling holy water, reciting psalms, and laying on hands." (More Catholics stories.)