Evil is Among Us

Here's an interesting viewpoint, one that claims that the devil is real and lurks everywhere, even inside the Vatican. From an article in the UK's Telegraph newspaper:

Father Gabriele Amorth said people who are possessed by Satan vomit shards of glass and pieces of iron.
He added that the assault on Pope Benedict XVI on Christmas Eve by a mentally unstable woman and the sex abuse scandals which have engulfed the Church in the US, Ireland, Germany and other countries, were proof that the Anti-Christ was waging a war against the Holy See.

"The Devil resides in the Vatican and you can see the consequences," said Father Amorth, 85, who has been the Holy See's chief exorcist for 25 years.
"He can remain hidden, or speak in different languages, or even appear to be sympathetic. At times he makes fun of me. But I'm a man who is happy in his work."
While there was "resistance and mistrust" towards the concept of exorcism among some Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI has no such doubts, Father Amorth said. "His Holiness believes wholeheartedly in the practice of exorcism. He has encouraged and praised our work," he added.
The evil influence of Satan was evident in the highest ranks of the Catholic hierarchy, with "cardinals who do not believe in Jesus and bishops who are linked to the demon," Father Amorth said.

So I guess we now know the ultimate defense to be used by all those pederast priests: the Devil made me do it!

I think it is pathetic to live in the 21st century and have these medieval and ancient beliefs taken seriously. I can understand why ignorant peasants would believe these things, but in today's world? We now understand a great deal about myth-making and human psychology. It is clear that the Salem "witches" were burned because people -- under torture -- were willing to say whatever their torturers wanted them to say. You know, the same thing as happens day in and day out in Guantanamo, that modern day Salem set up by the Republicans to "ferret out the evil" of terrorism.