«The ministry of the exorcist becomes more necessary today than ever, in our increasingly superficial, atheistic and materialistic society, in which unfortunately esotericism, occultism and Satanism are constantly increasing, into which they stumble, through mere proselytism or out of inadmissible gullibility, many of our young people.” To say it is Valter Casciolidoctor, psychotherapist, specialized in clinical psychology and auxiliary member of the International Association of Exorcists Aie, on the sidelines of the national conference of the Aie, in which one hundred and ten exorcist priests and auxiliaries participated. «Exorcism is a ministry of consolation and mercy operating in the Churchat the service of those who the Italian Episcopal Conference has defined as “the poorest of the poor”: those who are victims of the extraordinary activity of the devil”, explains Cascioli further, on the thirtieth anniversary of the association and on the tenth anniversary of the recognition of its Statute by part of the Holy See. «It is sad to have to denounce, even among those who say they believe in God, many people who do not believe in the existence of the devilconsidering it as a myth, a symbolic figure or an abstract concept, such as that of “evil”. No. Satan is a person, “a living, spiritual, perverted and perverting being. Terrible reality. Mysterious and scary” as Saint Paul VI said. This is a real pastoral emergency which, moreover, affects individuals of all ages and social classes.” For this reason, Cascioli continues, «talking about Satan is not living in the Middle Ages, as many people imply, but being aware of this “terrible reality”, as the exorcist priests and the many poor people afflicted by Evil, who turn to them every day, know well.”
As reported by the Aie press release, during the conference (held behind closed doors in Frascati from 16 to 20 September), the exorcist and canonist of the archdiocese of Brindisi-Ostuni, Father Piermario Burgo presented a report on the Ritual of Exorcisms, while in the report Il Wild horse. Considerations regarding hypnosis and other trance phenomena Cascioli illustrated the dangerous data and risks deriving from regressive hypnosis techniques, «correlating them to the possibility of exposure to the extraordinary diabolical action of those subjects who, in certain social contexts, also linked to alternative medicine and holistic therapies, undergo these practices.” «I have highlighted the danger linked to certain therapeutic proposals, deceptively advertised on the internet and in social media, particularly popular in so-called alternative medicines, such as, for example, techniques for the development of mental potential», explains Cascioli himself. «Such therapies, in addition to being devoid of real effectiveness, can be very dangerous as they can favor the deslatentization of very serious psychic disorders of a dissociative nature (psychosis), without however excluding the possibility of the onset of preternatural disorders, a tangible expression of demonic activity extraordinary.”
Vice President Aie Sr Francesco Bamonte with the journalist Alberto Castaldiniauthors of the interview volume The dark charm of Halloween. Questions and answerspublished by the Paoline, then reconstructed «the origins, implications and consequences of this Anglo-Saxon imported festival rooted in Italy for more than thirty years». Don Marcello Lanzaexorcist of the diocese of Acerra, scholar of spiritual theology and coordinator of the training of exorcists in Campania, then addressed the theme of Hell as “man’s self-exclusion from salvation”, while Father Mario ImperatoriJesuit and professor of dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Naples, «has opened interesting and disturbing glimpses on the brutality of some manifestations of esotericism and contemporary Satanism”. In the text, we read in the press release, he illustrated «a long series of connections between the practices of occultism, aberrant criminal conduct and the strategies of power groups, whose purpose is to influence the social and political life of nations» .
The shadow of sects in Artificial Intelligence was then the theme of Don’s report Aldo Buonaiutoexorcist of the diocese of Fabriano-Matelica and member of the IEA Council: «Artificial intelligence no longer represents a technological field for specialists. Its applications are increasingly widespread in daily life and appear to mimetic human behavior, to the point of conditioning it, such as in new forms of religiosity going so far as to create and venerate real talking idols. All this presents alarming ethical contents which also involve the ministry of exorcism.”
Again, reports were presented Beatrice Ugoliniprofessor of occult-esoteric language for the master’s degree in Criminology at the Cusano University of Rome – who speaking of Esotericism and occultism: between ancient traditions and new trends highlighted the rooting and diffusion of occult currents and practices in our country, often presented as alternative paths of knowledge – and Don Simone Andrea De Benedittisauxiliary exorcist of the archdiocese of Taranto, who examined the evangelical episode of puer lunaticus (Mt 17,14-21; Mk 9,14-29; Lk 9,37-43), «which some biblical scholars describe as suffering from epilepsy, while the speaker highlighted the preternatural dimension of the phenomenology described by the Evangelists».
At the end of the conference, the president of the AIE, Monsignor Karel Orlitaexorcist and canonist of the diocese of Brno (Czech Republic), presented the balance sheet of one year of the association’s activity, highlighting «the intense training activity guaranteed by the AIE and the participation of members in national and international conventions and conferences , as well as traditional conferences and ongoing training courses for exorcists and auxiliaries in Italy.”
