Having worked in this field for years as both a researcher and reporter, one of the most frequent requests we get is for priests who are knowledgeable about the occult to help people with problems such as infestations, oppression, spiritual bondage, the breaking of curses and other occult-related ills. Where can they find the help they need?
These problems are increasing at an alarming rate as more and more people routinely dabble in occult practices, particularly Ouija boards, Reiki, “angel guides,” Wicca/witchcraft, magic, and necromancers (people who conjure the dead). They think nothing of it until all of a sudden things go terribly wrong.
In my experience, these “things” range from people who had mental breakdowns as a result of being cursed by a sorcerer to hauntings, poltergeist activity and, perhaps most common of all, oppressions of every kind imaginable (unable to sleep, confused thinking, nightmares, sudden inability to focus, etc.) – all due to toying with things such as voodoo dolls, tarot cards, astrology, and channeling spirits, to name a few.
What most people don’t know is that there’s no such thing as dabbling in the occult. Once you turn toward it, you open a door that can only be closed by full renunciation and repentance in the sacrament of Reconciliation. And until that door is closed, Satan can get at you much more directly than he could before that door was open. When it is closed, he can only tempt you to sin; once it’s opened, he has more direct access to you and can start to manifest in other ways such as through infestations, oppressive thoughts, etc.
Once these problems begin, the "dabbler" quickly realizes that what started out as fun isn't fun anymore - and it's seemingly impossible to get it to stop.
That’s where priests who are adept in this area can be of such enormous help. Although there are still too few of these priests to serve the ever-increasing number of people in need, the situation is improving. Most diocese now have an exorcist and may also provide more minor assistance in the form of deliverance teams or contact information for knowledgeable priests.
Because contact information for the exorcist(s) in your diocese is not made public for obvious reasons, the first place to start to initiate contact is to speak with your pastor. As this article in Aleteia recommends, your pastor has been given certain authority in the spiritual realm. He will also know how to contact the office of the exorcist, but will normally begin by asking questions about your concerns and determining the next best step to take.
If you do not feel as if your pastor is listening to your concerns, feel free to consult other priests in the area. In particular, look for local Catholic charismatic prayer groups which are typically under the advisement of priests who are adept in discerning demonic activity. These priests are knowledgeable about oppression caused by curses, spells, and hexes, as well as infestations of homes and places. The place to start would be to contact the leaders of these groups whose contact info is sometimes in the church bulletin or through the parish office.
Another source of help would be through the ministry of Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, an exorcist, author, educator, and licensed psychologist, who operates the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal. His website offers numerous resources from deliverance prayers to monthly deliverance sessions which are conducted online.
The Unbound Ministry®, which is approved by many bishops throughout the United States, consists of informal teams who help people find healing and new hope in their lives by using what they refer to as The Five Keys®: 1) Repentance and Faith 2) Forgiveness 3) Renunciation 4) Authority and 5) The Father's Blessing. You an click on this link to find a team near you. Resolving issues in these areas very often puts an end to demonic activity which is often connected to our inner woundedness.
In the meantime, educate yourself about the occult. The late Father Gabriele Amorth, Rome's exorcist, wrote numerous books on this subject which are available on Amazon.
Exorcist Father Jose Antonio Fortea wrote an easy-to-read book on the demonic entitled, Interview with an Exorcist, which is written in a Q&A format that we often recommend for teens.
Catholic author and educator Charles Fraune's Slaying Dragons is an excellent compilation of the writings of these and many other exorcists.
Deliverance Prayers for the Laity, compiled by exorcist Father Chad Ripperger, is an excellent resource for private prayer.
Johnnette William's classic book, The New Age Counterfeit, is another valuable book for understanding the roots of some of the demonic practices that are so mainstream today such as Wicca, Occultism, and Satanism.
My book, Fight Like a Catholic: Spiritual Warfare in the Catholic Tradition, explains the nature of Satan and the ways he tempts us in our every day lives.
My Learn to Discern Compendium is full of information about the New Age and the occult that can be used to protect individuals and families.
The Catholic Church's ministry of exorcism was instituted by Christ Himself and has 2,000 years of documented history of coming to the aid of souls who are suffering from the ravages of Satan. Avail yourself of her resources and let yourself be set free!
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