Exorcism ministry

Persons seeking personal deliverance or exorcism ministry from the Society of Saint Benedict clergy, no Exorcism or Deliverance will be done without the full permission of Presiding Bishop of The United States Old Catholic Church:

• For Catholics or non-Catholics, the first step is to request an appointment with our Deacon/Priest.
• During the appointment the Deacon/Priest will listen to the person’s history, provide pastoral counseling, pray, and, depending on the nature of the case, fill out the required “Intake Form”.

If the person still considers him/herself under spiritual oppression or attack, he or she is referred for a consultation with a mental health professional of his/her choice to help discern any medical or mental health conditions prior to deliverance/exorcism sessions.

• Once the mental health professional is able to complete his/her assessment and deliver it to the deliverance team, the deliverance/exorcism deacon/priest will call the person to work out the logistics of a prayer ministry session.
• The person will be offered a date, time, and place to come for deliverance ministry led by the designated priest and his lay team.
• The person will receive a 30-day spiritual plan of prayer to help strengthen his/her spiritual life. This is part of the pre-care and post-care.
• Confidentiality is assured throughout the process.
• The mandated assigned priest and team will prayerfully discern if the person’s situation is a case for the diocesan mandated exorcist whose name shall remain anonymous. If the major rite of exorcism is required, the lay coordinator will advise the person regarding next steps.

Parents seeking ministry for a son or daughter under the age of eighteen may start by making an appointment for their child with their local parish priest, and the above outline is the same.

While parents may desire ministry for children over 18, at that age, the son or daughter must take the initiative in their care and follow the above outline.

The prayers for liberation of a place may be prayed by any and all priests.

• Those seeking the blessing or cleansing of their home or business will be connected with the closest Deacon/Priest to their location.
• The bishop’s protocol provides the proper prayers.
• Approval by the Presiding Bishop of The United States Old Catholic Church and The Abbot of The Old Catholic Benedictines of Immaculate Mary must happen prior of any Rite.

Policy on The Rite of Exorcism

The Rite of Exorcism is a sacramental of the Catholic Church. Canon Law requires the “express permission of the local Ordinary” for the use of this rite (canon 1172), granted only to a priest, and in the United States Old Catholic Church permission must be given in each case. 

The Abbot of The Old Catholic Benedictines of Immaculate Mary will also approve/deny any Rite beforehand. Exorcism is when “the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1673). 

It is “directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to His Church (ibid.).”

Please be assured that the Bishops and clergy of the Society of Saint Benedict understand that your needs are real and pressing. They will not be ignored. Any delay that may be necessary is likely due to number of requests that are lined up at any given time.