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West Texas Exorcisms 6/21/11
Jennifer Samp
jsamp@cbs7.com
CBS 7 News
June 21, 2011
San Angelo, TX - You’ve seen exorcisms in movies and read about possessions in books, but Bishop Michael Pfeifer of the San Angelo Diocese says demon influence is very real and spiritual warfare is happening right here in west Texas.
“It’s an issue that's been in movies, books have been written about it,” Pfeifer says.
Bishop Michael Pfeifer says movies like The Rite puts exorcism in a fictional light, but there is truth in it.
“They take a quart of truth then build around it,” He said. “We need to be careful with what we see in the movies: what's true and not true.”
In the past year Pfeifer says he has seen more demonic possessions in the area.
“There are possessions I've had to work on, which were very frightening, I can't really talk about it,” he explained. “There are diabolical cults in West Texas most people don't know about, its secretive and underground, but exists.”
He says these frightening cases pushed him to call for the help of Father/exorcist Dennis McManus, from the Archdiocese of New York to speak to hundreds from across west Texas and local priests.
McManus says he guided them through an ancient practice of prayer that can release a human from the clutches of evil.
"Demons aren't interested in humans who have a relationship with Jesus Christ," McManus said. "Exorcism means to break the relationship with the demon."
“I've personally had to deal in recent years with the issue of the devil’s diabolical influence,” Pfeifer said
Bishop Pfeifer says the priests will be going through a two-day seminar with the exorcist; they will then be assigned throughout the area.
He says only a Bishop can approve an exorcism.