Amorth
I just read a translation of an interview with Father Amorth. I have some questions:
"Even with the help of both hands, we can barely discern whether the pupils are towards the top or the bottom of the eye. If the pupils are looking up, the demons in possession are scorpions. If looking down, they are serpents."
What does Amorth mean by "scorpions" and "serpents"?
"Demons are wary of talking and must be forced to speak. When demons are voluntarily chatty it's a trick to distract the exorcist. We must never ask useless questions out of curiosity. We but must interrogate with care. We always begin by asking for the demon's name."
I have seen you state, on a number of occasions, that an exorcist should NEVER ask a demon's name. Why do yours and Amorth's techniques differ in this instance?
"We find out whether their presence is due to a spell and the specifics of that spell."
I recollect you saying that spells casted by a person cannot lead to possession. Is what Amorth says correct?
QUESTION from Adam on April 29, 2004
ANSWER by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM on May 6, 2004
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Dear Adam: I do not know for sure what Fr. Amorth is referring to. I do know that in the passage of Scripture where "scorpions" and "serpents" are mentioned, it is referring to demons. In Luke 10:19, the word scorpion is the Greek, skopios, meaning "to pierce" or "to sting". The word serpent is the Greek, ophis, meaning "cunning" or "malicious person". Satan is characterized as a cunning and malicious spirit who pierces and stings. I presume Fr. Amorth is referring to this. In Deliverance Counseling determining whether a demon is a scorpion or serpent is not necessary thus the first I heard of this is from Fr. Amorth. Unfortunately the interviewer did not ask a question for Fr. Amorth to clarify this in the interview. On the issue of speaking to the demons, you are mistaken about what I said. The Church has restricted the method of talking directly to the demons in deliverance counseling, not in formal exorcism. In formal exorcism one does ask the demon's name and does talk directly to the demon. You are also mistaken about what I said about spells. I never said that a person with a spell could never lead to possession. In this topic of Spiritual Warfare it is important to read carefully. Mis-reading this information could lead to trouble.
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