Bishop warns of a rise in ‘possession’

PRIESTS are forming so-called “ghostbuster” squads amid claims demonic possession cases are on the increase.

Churchmen are getting special training to help them perform exorcisms.

Father Pat Collins, an Irish exorcist, said every bishop should have trained priests in their diocese. He says he regularly gets messages asking for help with “demons”.

Fr Collins said: “Nearly every day of the year I receive an email or phone call from desperate people who feel oppressed by evil spirits or who believe that their home or workplace is haunted in one way or another.”

He claimed one incident involved a young girl who shouted out the “sins” of someone in the room.

In scenes eerily similar to the 1974 film The Exorcist, the child called out in a man’s voice.

Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, of Waterford and Lismore in the Republic of Ireland, said: “The priest had warned the four guys to make sure they had gone to confession.

“One guy didn’t go to confession and the girl, with the voice that was not hers – a male voice that was coming out of her – actually called out the sins of the guy who had not been to confession.

“So that’s kind of scary stuff.”

The Bishop warns strict guidelines need to be followed when setting up a “ghostbuster” squad.

He said: “We are finding our feet in this area – it is something that there are more and more requests coming in for.

“It is a tricky area. It must never be done on one’s own and there always has to be prayer behind it.” ‘SCARY’: Bishop Cullinan EXORCIST: Collins