Father Gabriele Amorth, who for years was the Vatican’s chief exorcist and claims to have cleansed hundreds of people of evil spirits, said yoga is Satanic because it leads to a worship of Hinduism and “all eastern religions are based on a false belief in reincarnation.”

–Nick Squires, The Telegraph

When I first saw the article, which appeared in The Telegraph on Nov 25 of this year, I ignored it. Why? Because Father Amorth has made these statements many times before, so (to me) it’s hardly news.

I want to clarify right away: I’m not saying I agree with Father Amorth — he seems a little extreme to me. However, I do understand his position; and I rather admire him for it.

Now, because Father Amorth has made similar statements in the past, Nick Squires oughtta know that these comments aren’t news. After all, according to the paper’s bio of him, “Nick Squires has been the Telegraph’s correspondent in Rome since 2008, covering Italy, the Vatican and surrounding countries.”

But maybe it was a slow news day in Rome, and this made for some easy material. And it worked, because it’s been fueling gossip blogs and columns for days afterward.

Speaking of gossip, I’m blogging about it right now because I have seen the article linked to and written about in a giggling, snickering, “can you believe that?” way for the friggin’ week. Yes, that means I am only commenting on this because everyone else is. So let me climb up on the bandwagon (or soap box) a moment …

What really prompted me to blog about this article was a headline that reads: “Vatican Exorcist and Mark Driscoll Agree: Yoga Is Satanic,” and the article ends with an invitation to vote on “Who’s a bigger asshole?” How freaking classy is that, eh?

So, first off, I think that anyone who wants to call someone an asshole for having an opinion is “a bigger asshole.” Gosh, Father Amorth isn’t standing around book stores holding a sign reading “God Hates Potter Fans.” He isn’t screaming at people for practicing Yoga. What he is doing is warning about something that, in his opinion and experience, can set someone up for problems.

When he says these things are “satanic,” he isn’t saying that someone goes to Hell for purchasing a Potter movie ticket, or for holding a membership with a Yoga studio. He is saying that devils are opportunists; and he things these things are special opportunities for Satan and his minions.

Incidentally, about his position that Yoga isn’t simply “stretching,” many Yogis in India and elsewhere agree. This Westernized version of Yoga is watered down, stripped of any spiritual context, and reduced to breathing and stretching. So maybe we should call it something other Yoga? But I digress…

Again, I think Father Amorth’s positions are sometimes a bit extreme. Matter of fact, other Catholic exorcists do not share Father Amorth’s views on the Potter books and Yoga.

Matter of fact, there are other Catholic exorcists who do not share Father Amorth’s views on Potter and Yoga and what-not. In Tracy Wilkinson’s fantastic book The Vatican’s Exorcists, other prominent Catholic exorcists who spoke with Wilkinson imply Father Amorth has a tendency to see “the Devil under every rock.”

Still, I also don’t blame him for his world view. And I rather admire him for his work and for his willingness to discuss his stances on these issues.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. I promise not to call you an asshole for your opinion.

• Share this:
• Email
• Print
• Share
• Diaspora*

Category: Spirituality and Religion · Tags: exorcism, Father Gabriele Amorth, Yoga