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Indianapolis, Ind., Mar 15, 2017 \/ 06:26 am (CNA<\/a>).- There is an alarming increase in demonic activity being reported by those who work in exorcism ministry, said the exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Although steps are being taken to increase the number of exorcists, demand is still outpacing supply.<\/p>\n Father Vincent Lampert has been an exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis since 2005 and is the pastor at St. Malachy\u2019s in Indianapolis. He trained at the North American College in Rome and assisted with more than 40 exorcisms with longtime Italian exorcist Father Carmine De Filippi. Although the identities of most exorcists are hidden, Father Lampert often gives talks to warn against evil and turn people toward the power of God.<\/p>\n In an interview with the National Catholic Register, he said that he sees an increasing number of people involved in Satanic rituals and opening themselves up to evil.<\/p>\n \u201cThe problem isn\u2019t that the devil has upped his game, but more people are willing to play it,\u201d Father Lampert said. He pointed to rampant pornography, illegal drugs use and the occult. \u201cWhere there is demonic activity, there is always an entry point,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Last October, Father Lampert met in Rome with the International Association of Exorcists, a group of 400 Catholic leaders and priests. It is a support group that meets every other year. According to him, group members agree that there is a great need for more exorcists.<\/p>\n Actual demonic possessions are rare, however, Father Lampert explained. \u201cI\u2019ve only seen three possessions in the last three years, but there is also infestation, vexation and obsession.\u201d<\/p>\n He explained that demonic infestation happens in places where things might move and there are loud noises. With vexation, a person is physically attacked and might have marks such as bruises, bites or scratches. Demonic obsession involves mental attacks, such as persistent thoughts of evil racing through one\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n \u201cIn possessions,\u201d Father Lampert said, \u201cI have seen eyes rolled back in the head, throwing out obscenities, bodily contortions, foul odors, temperatures drop in the room, and I\u2019ve witnessed someone levitating.\u201d<\/p>\n When he was appointed as an exorcist by his bishop in 2005, there were only 12 others. He said there are now about 50 other exorcists that he knows of personally in the United States.<\/p>\n Bishops Respond<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The Catholic bishops are aware of increased reports of demonic activity because a priest can only perform an exorcism with episcopal permission. According to Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, \u201cCanon law requires a bishop to give permission before a priest can do a major exorcism, but bishops don\u2019t receive any formal training in exorcism.\u201d<\/p>\n To help support bishops, in 2010, while he was the chairman of the Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Paprocki organized a two-day conference on all aspects of exorcism.<\/p>\n As a direct response to the need for trained exorcists in the U.S., the Milwaukee-based Pope Leo XII Institute was founded in 2012 to support \u201cthe spiritual formation of priests to bring the light of Christ to dispel evil.\u201d It began as a series of informal meetings at the request of U.S. bishops wanting education and training. It was also a response to Pope St. John Paul II\u2019s recommendation that every diocese appoint an exorcist. A spokesman with the U.S. bishops\u2019 conference said that, although ideally every diocese should have its own exorcist, no statistics are kept as to the actual numbers.<\/p>\n Msgr. John Esseff, president of the institute\u2019s board of directors, was one of the founding members. He has been a priest for 63 years and an exorcist in the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, for more than 40 years. He often gives talks at the institute on exorcism and deliverance.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the acceptance of sin has increased, so, too, has demonic activity,\u201d Msgr. Esseff said. \u201cThe bishops saw the need for more trained exorcists because so many cases were being referred from all over the country to the dioceses that had exorcists.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA person should be cared for in his own diocese,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The Pope Leo XIII Institute graduated the first class of 55 exorcists, priests and deacons from its two-year program in 2015. The training involves 10-day sessions given at Mundelein Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago, twice a year for two years. A second class of 52 will graduate this fall.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m hopeful bishop are becoming more aware of their role as the \u2018chief exorcist\u2019 for the diocese,\u201d Msgr. Esseff said. \u201cThere is also still some resistance of the reality of Satan,\u201d in the Church, among priests and bishops, he added, \u201cas if there is just evil and not the devil.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe only one that can overcome Satan is Jesus,\u201d Msgr. Esseff said. \u201cHe overcomes the kingdom of evil with light. And every priest represents Jesus. The devil does not see the priest \u2013 he sees Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n Minor Exorcisms<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Bishop Paprocki, who has also given lectures at the Pope Leo XIII Institute, said he likes to emphasize the difference between major and minor exorcisms. \u201cA minor exorcism occurs very frequently in the Church, every time we do a baptism,\u201d he told the Register. \u201cIt is a matter of rejecting Satan and all his works.\u201d<\/p>\n A priest does not need a bishop\u2019s permission to do minor exorcisms in situations where there is an evil influence, Bishop Paprocki explained. \u201cIt\u2019s just a matter of praying to God to overcome evil influences.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason a major exorcism needs a bishop\u2019s permission is that the priest talks directly to the devil and commands him in the name of Jesus Christ to leave that person,\u201d he said. \u201cFor the priest to be able to do that, he needs the authority of the Church behind him.\u201d<\/p>\n Father Lampert said that a priest, and even laypeople, can pray minor exorcism prayers because they address God. \u201cThe lay faithful should not give commands to demons,\u201d he said. \u201cDemons recognize the authority of bishops and the Church. If you claim authority on your own, it can get you into trouble,\u201d he warned the laity. He referred to the example in Acts 19, when some Jewish exorcists tried to expel an evil spirit. The devil said: \u201cJesus I recognize, Paul I know, but who are you?\u201d Then he attacked them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not the exorcists that have the power,\u201d Father Lampert said, \u201cbut the power and authority of the Church that comes from Jesus Christ. Catholics understand that individuals don\u2019t have that power.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone interviewed for this article stated that the ordinary work of the devil is temptation, so it is sin that gives him a foothold in people\u2019s lives. They all encouraged people to have strong prayer lives and to go to confession and receive the Eucharist frequently.<\/p>\n Father Lampert cautions people not to give too much attention to the devil, as well. \u201cThe focus should be on God and Jesus Christ,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I remind myself that God is in charge, it puts everything in perspective, and the worry and fear dissipates.\u201d<\/p>\n He added, \u201cIf people would build up their faith lives, the devil will be defeated.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Originally published at the National Catholic Register<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n