Dear Joe:

First of all there is a rule of thumb: NEVER trust the reporting of secular newspapers on anything they have to say about the Church -- especially Italian and British newspapers, which is where this story originates.

From what I understand, Father Amorth said, "The Devil lives in the Vatican. He has won over the confidences of people but naturally its difficult to find proof but the consequences are visible. We have cardinals who don't believe in Christ, bishops connected with demons."

But, frankly, Father Amorth is well-known to make imprudent statements and frankly, rash judgments. To make such statements without proof is rash judgment. I agree with Father José Antonio Fortea, a colleague exorcist to Father Amorth in Rome, that Father Amorth went to far in saying these things, that he had "gone well beyond the evidence".

Father Fortea said, "Our College of Cardinals, if we compare it with past centuries is the most edifying and virtuous that history has ever known. One would have to go back to the epoch of the Roman Empire to find a body of electors so distanced from all earthly pretension as the current one is... Cardinals might be better or worse but all have upright intentions and seek the glory of God."

Father Fortea concluded by emphasizing, "Statements must be proven, especially when they are about such grave accusations that affect the honorability of those who form part of the Head of the Church as far as they help the Supreme Pastor.... to affirm that some cardinals are members of satanic sects is an unacceptable distance.""

With that said, of course the devil is in the Vatican. The Vatican is the headquarters of the Church, the great enemy of the devil. Satan will be there to cause as much trouble as he can. Where the authority of Christ resides, the devil is not far behind. This is a war and the enemy will also attempt to infiltrate the headquarters.

Father Fortea remarked on the "sources" of Father Amorth's accusations:

"In addition to the people that seek help for demonic possession innumerable persons come to us who claim to have visions, revelations and messages from Our Lord." Among these, "a certain number offer apocalyptic messages and revelations about the infiltration of Satanism and the Masons within the dome of the Church."

Fr. Fortea properly remarked that when confronted with such alleged messages we are suspend judgment while they are discerned over time, "sometimes months for each one of the cases."

The other source Fr. Amorth refers to is the demons themselves when "under obedience" during an exorcism. Father Fortea correctly replied that knowing whether or not the demon is telling the truth "is in many cases impossible."

"We can know with great confidence when a demon tells the truth in the subject directly related with the exorcism. That is, the number of demons, their name and similar things. But we cannot be confident in what regards concrete news relating to people."

"Father Amorth does not have other sources of knowledge than the two that I just cited," says Father Fortea, "I refer to his own words for this affirmation."

Source: Catholic News Agency

Exorcists are not to ask unnecessary questions that serve only curiosity. Questions that serve to give the exorcist information to cast out the demon are permitted. Often, however, demons will offer information without being asked, usually lies, as mentioned by Father Fortea above.

As for the Pope doing something about this, the Pope cannot excommunicate or otherwise discipline someone on the basis of wild rumors and rash judgments. Canon Law, justice, and the law of God require proof.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary