Bengaluru: A Catholic archbishop in India says addiction to cellphones and pornography that assail people’s faith and morals are new forms of demonic possessions.
“New forms of demonic possessions are subtly drawing us away from Christ and the Church,” Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore told the third international course of deliverance that began on October 24 in the southern Indian city.
As many as 101 people, including 47 priests, from across India are attending the seven-day conference organized by the Institute for World Evangelization and Light of Christ Covenant Community in collaboration with the Internal Association of Deliverance and the Bangalore Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (BCCRS).
“This Conference assumes great importance as the people of God are in dire need of deliverance from these satanic bondages. You have come here in all earnestness to exercise your faith and spiritually equip yourselves in unshackling people from these bondages,” the archbishop said at the opening Mass at Nava Spoorthi Kendra (center for new inspiration) in Bengaluru, capital of Karnataka state.
The prelate, who just crossed 75 years, says people traditionally considered addictions to alcohol and smoking as forms of demonic possessions. However “with technology on our fingertips becoming easily accessible and very affordable, the Satan is insidiously using it to prey on people and binding them. We are now seeing more people getting dangerously addicted to the cell phone and to pornography that is assailing the faith and morals of people. The fall-out is an increase sexual promiscuity leading to child abuse, incest and other deviant sexual behavior,” he bemoaned.
Catholic participants from various ministerial and professional background expressed a keen desire to receive an “in-filling of the Holy Spirit” and to “clarify” and “be updated” on the subject of ‘demonic possessions’ and ‘deliverance’.
Bro. Christopher Correya, director of the ‘Light of Christ Community’ with a 21-year experience in the Deliverance Ministry, told Matters India, “We feel encouraged that more people are getting interested in the deliverance ministry since our first conference. Devious forms of demonic possession are victimizing thousands of people, including Catholics who are not firmly grounded in the faith.”
He also noted black magic and superstitions ruining the faith of many people and said the need of the hour is to have more priests committed full-time to rescuing people from these “wretched bondages.”
He says the international course on deliverance laity’s attempt in collaboration with the BCCRS and other organizations to take on Satan “on a war-footing.”
Redemptorist Father Jacob Britto, secretary of the BCCRS told the participants that those opposed to Christ’s mandate to drive out demons would resist any law against black magic, superstition, blood sacrifices and all devious forms of possession.
He referred to the Karnataka government’s move to enact laws and the stiff opposition from some quarters. The southern Indian state had in recent years witnessed sacrifices to appease gods.
Participant Rachel Pires from Mumbai with 15 years of experience in Clinical Psychology spoke of an increasing interest in psycho-spirituality both among priests and the laity.
“My experience has taught me that there are certainly demonic forces at work which science may not explain and so I am here to receive more insights into the spiritual angle and apply them in helping my patients. I want to learn to distinguish between psychological cases and cases of demonic possession,” she told Matters India.
Fr. Jaya Kumar Francis, a Missionaries of the Sacred Heart priest, said he has been “overwhelmed by the anxiety, chaos and questions of the people I face in my ministry. I feel a battle with the powers of darkness is getting stronger and there is an urgent need to address this issue.”
The senior priest expects the conference to enlighten and empower him to reach out to people struggling with different kind of bondages.
Fr. Sam Koonamplackil, assistant director of Logos Retreat Centre managed by the Vincentian Congregation in Bengaluru, says he is already engaged in the deliverance ministry.
“It is important for us in the ministry to update ourselves on the subject of deliverance and receive more clarity on theory and practice. When we know how the Satan makes inroads into people’s lives, we can equip people to prevent demonic possessions to happen,” he told Matters India.
Pallotine Father Frank Pinto, who heads a retreat center in Goa, says the mission of those in deliverance ministry is to redeem people from the clutches of the evil one. “None of us wish to see people suffer,” said the priest, who said he felt keenly when he saw the suffering people go through because of demonic possessions.”
He said he came to the conference to learn and re-charge him “to hearken to the cries of people who come to our retreats seeking deliverance.”
Redemptorist Priest Fr. Peter Balaswamy says, “I look forward to receiving enlightenment on the many aspects of deliverance and some clarity on Church teaching and how to render help to those bound by evil powers.”
Benedict Abraham, a consultant at a leading NGO, says he sees two categories of Catholics. “One who knows and is convinced of the Truth and the other who remains Catholic by default but is not really immersed in the Truth. The more vulnerable to the evil designs of Satan is the second category.”