Dear Vincent:

Your instincts are correct. The Catholic Church does have more power in exorcisms because the Catholic Church is the only True Church in the fullness of the Faith, which was established by Christ personally, and to which Christ personally gave authority to her via the appointment of His Prime Minister (called the Pope) and the Bishops in union with him (called the Magisterium). Christ gave his Church (Catholic) the power and authority to protect and defend the Faith, to teach and interpret the Faith, and to administer such things as exorcism. 

In the Scripture we see Christ gave the power of exorcism, first to the Apostles, who were the first Catholic Bishops (Mark 3:14-15), then to the seventy-two disciples (Luke 10:17), then to all believers (Mark 16:15-18). The Church has been given the authority to place restrictions on the faculty of official solemn exorcisms as the Holy Spirit inspires the Pope and Magisterium.

Currently, Christ's Magisterium restricts official solemn exorcism to valid and licit Catholic Priests who have permission from their valid and licit Catholic Bishops. the primary reason for this restriction is that performing solemn exorcism of the possessed is dangerous. The exorcist needs all the authority and power possible to fight the possessing demon. The exorcist priest does bring to bear that authority and power that is in the Church, and administered through the priest's ministry.

Note: the reason I say valid and licit priests and bishops is that some groups like to steal the designation "Catholic." Thus, to clarify, by referring to "Catholic Church" I am talking about those Churches that are in Communion and submit to the authority of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome which is under the leadership and primacy of the Pope, who is Bishop of Rome. Valid and licit priests and bishops are those who are officially recognized as Catholic and ordained according to the law of the Catholic Church.

Since all believers may offer prayers of deliverance (this is not a solemn exorcism done in the name of the Church, but a group of people praying together for someone), Protestants can certainly pray such prayers. This problem of people outside the True Church was brought to the attention of Jesus in Mark 9:38. Jesus said, "Do not prohibit them. For there is no one who can act with virtue in my name and soon speak evil about me."

Thus, Protestants can pray for deliverance, but they have no authority to perform a solemn exorcism (official exorcism in the name of  the Church that Jesus founded, and to which he gave the authority).

Protestant act under the authority of Mark 16:15-18, just as we do in the St. Padre Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling. I am not a priest and thus cannot perform solemn exorcisms, but I can pray for the deliverance of people, and counsel them on how to rid themselves of demonic influence, harassment, oppression or obsession. Those fully possession however, must be referred to a Bishop for a Church approved solemn exorcism.

As Catholic Deliverance Counselors we have an advantage over our Protestant counterparts. While we both operate under Mark 16:15-18, we avail ourselves to prayers that seek intercession of the Saints, especially our Blessed Mother and Saint Michael, use Church approved blessings and sacramentals, and offer up our clients in the two most powerful prayers in the universe, the Holy Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office).

The Holy Mass and the Divine office are official prayers of the Church and by that intentions offered in these two venues are prayed by the entire Church in heaven and on earth. That is lightyears more powerful than a pray team of whatever number of people praying.

In private prayer (that means not official Church prayers) we offer deliverance prayer in the name of our group and in the name of Jesus Christ. That means that about thirty people are praying for our client's deliverance. But, when we include the prayer intention for our clients in the Holy Mass or the Divine office there are untold billions praying for our client (1.2 billion Catholics, and another 750 million non-Catholic Christians on earth and who knows how many people in heaven). That makes for a super-powerful prayer.

Bottomline: Protestants, non-Priest Catholics, and other non-Catholic Christians may pray prayers for deliverance on behalf of someone, and have a ministry to that effect, but they have no authority (nor do I) to do an official Church exorcism where the weight of the entire Body of Christ comes crashing down on the demon's head. Only Catholic priests with consent of their bishops are permitted that. 

Protestants also lack the special weapons that God has given to His Church that may be used by laity. These include seeking the intercessions of our Blessed Mother and St. Michael the Archangel (two of the most powerful forces against demons), and other Saints, such as St. Benedict, who is also a powerful warrior. Protestants also lack the official blessings and prayers the Church allows laity to use, and they lack the sacramentals of the Church, such as Holy Water, Holy Oil, Holy Salt, and blessed medals (such as of St. Benedict). Only valid priests can bless these objects to make them sacramentals. Most Protestants also deny the efficacy of then relics of the Saints, even though relics are mentioned in the Bible (i.e. 2 Kings 13:20-21; Acts 5:15-16; Acts 19:11-12).

Protestants can borrow these sacramentals, but they cannot create them. Protestants can use relics if they wish (though just using sacramentals and relics without the belief and faith in their efficacy will have little effect), and also seek the intercessions of the Saints.

Most Protestants will not avail themselves of these important weapons of spiritual warfare since most do not believe in the sacramentals and relics, nor do most believe in the Doctrine of the Communion of the Saints.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary