Europe, Exorcism, and Enlightenment

A great piece of American Spectator about exorcism, Emilie Rose, and secular scoffing. Link Excerpts:

Writing in Newsweek International, Barbie Nadeau scoffs at the Vatican's preservation of its exorcism rite. But judging by the rise of demonic cults cited in the article -- "Interest in satanic worship has risen sharply across Europe recently; there are 5,000 Italians involved in 650 active satanic cults in the country, more than double the number a decade ago" -- the Church's exorcism rite is needed more than ever. If enlightened Europe scoffs at Vatican exorcisms, it is not because Europeans deny the existence of Satan; it is because they don't want to fight him. . .

But while Newsweek mocks the ancient practice of exorcism, at least a few people in Hollywood realize that the only successful movies about Catholicism are the ones that take ancient traditions like it seriously. While modern church "reforms" are good fodder for comedy, they can't command the attention of an audience for a drama. In The Godfather and The Exorcist, and now in The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Hollywood recognizes that in order to rivet audiences it has to draw upon ancient traditions of the Church, which contain cultural power because they derive from a comprehension of the reality of evil rather than the liberal fatuousness upon which modern "reform" is based.

Europe, according to Newsweek, is too enlightened for the Vatican's exorcisms. But it is not too enlightened to host a growing number of demonic cults. The Devil's greatest triumph, it is said, was to convince man that he doesn't exist. But this saying needs revision. Europe displays an even greater triumph for the Devil -- not ignorance of his designs but respect for them.