Irish priest backs bishop’s plan to set up exorcism unit for clerics

**starrdust** · 10-15-2018

AN Irish priest has backed a Waterford Bishop’s plan to set up an exorcism unit.

Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan revealed he is creating a “delivery ministry” of trained clerics to tackle “supernatural powers from the dark side” and rid people of the devil.

The priest says he has been approached by parishioners for help

He also warned users of Reiki and “new age” practices they could be exposed to evil spirits.

Bishop Cullinan said that he’s received “several requests” to deal with evil forces and that one priest in his diocese of Waterford and Lismore is about to start training in the practice of exorcism.

Speaking to the Irish Sun on Sunday, exorcism expert Fr Pat Collins hailed the Bishop’s decision and urged the Church to roll out the unit in every diocese.

He said: “I am delighted that Bishop Cullinan is responding to the needs of the people in his diocese.” He added: “Earlier this year I said we need to take this more seriously and train people.”

The priest has got the go ahead to form an exorcism unit

Fr Collins — based in Blackrock, Co Dublin — said he is getting calls from desperate people almost daily who believe they are possessed by “supernatural powers from the dark side”.

Bishop Cullinan said on local radio secrecy is paramount when the unit goes to help people who have “opened up a door to an evil force, Satan”.

In January, Fr Collins penned an open letter to Church hierarchy, urging Irish bishops to train more priests to deal with the supernatural.

Speaking on radio in Waterford, Bishop Cullinan said he has received “about nine requests” in the last couple of years from people in relation to “what they believe to be evil forces”.

“Does Satan want to destroy the human person? Of course he does. Not only the church, but anywhere and everywhere that he will get in, he has come to destroy.”

He said anyone involved in “delivery ministry,” or exorcism, has to “pray for the healing of the church” and recite “with the permission of the bishop,” the prayers of exorcism.