Special Report: Dealing with demons

Spiritual Healer
"You are isolated and alone, no one is going to come and help you"

It's the catholic rite of forcing demons out of your body

Father Egan, Boston College
"If you look at the New Testament, Jesus himself was an exorcist."

Exorcisms have been around for centuries, but the growing interest in them and in the devil has caught the attention of the Vatican - - so much so that a new course on demons and exorcisms in now being taught in Rome.

Father Egan, Boston College
"You have to know your enemy of course, if these things are going on you have to know something about them..."

To those who think they may be possessed, it can seem real and feel real. But physiologists say it could be some form of mental or physical illness

Dr. Dost Ongur, McLean Hospital
"The classic example of people being convinced that somebody was possessed by the devil was a case of epilepsy which of course is a neurological disorder."

Officially the church won't say how many, if any have taken place. But Father Egan of Boston College says here in the U.S. an official exorcism hasn't happened in over fifty years.

Father Egan, Boston College
"In the United States to the best of my knowledge, exorcisms in the formal state have died out."

But that doesn't mean the informal ones have. In fact spiritual healers offer up their services all over the Internet - - and that has doctors concerned that medical conditions may be overlooked....

Dr. Dost Ongur, McLean Hospital
"The person may be going about their business and then all of a sudden they have an attack, pass out, say strange things. It would be a quite a seriously matter for someone who has other wise been well.

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