The Devil and the Doctor: The (De)Medicalization of Exorcism in the Roman Catholic Church

Abstract

Exorcists are once again in demand for their very specific set of skills in (religious) healing. The founding of the International Association of Exorcists (AIE), the development of the “Exorcism and Prayer of Liberation Course” at a Vatican university, and countless publications from prominent Catholic exorcists are evidence for the relevance of exorcism in contemporary societies. Even though it is strictly speaking a liturgical practice, current exorcism discourses incorporate medical approaches and terminology. The relationship between religion and medicine is subject to change in late modern societies, as illness, health, and healing have increasingly shifted from the realm of religion to the realm of modern medicine. While mainstream churches come to terms with the prevailing paradigms of modernity, healing practices such as exorcism are (again) gaining importance on the margins. This article illuminates the tension between religion and medicine, as religious experts (exorcists) interact with medical experts and give their religious healing practices legitimacy through reference to medical and psychological methods.