I just ran across this case study in the February 2008 issue of the New Oxford Review Vol. LXXV, Number 2. What was so intriguing about it was not only the valiant attempt to document an alleged 'clear cut case of demonic possession', but more importantly to me at least was the scientific qualifications of the researcher. Richard Gallagher MD is not only a board certified psychiatrist in private practice in Hawthorne, NY but also is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at New York Medical College and on the faculty of Columbia University Psychoanalytic Institute as well for a Roman Catholic Seminary. He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Princeton University magna cum laude in Classics and was trained in psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine.
He is the only American psychiatrist to have been a consistent US Delegate to the International Association of Exorcists. As those of you have read my other articles know all too well, I am no fan of the Catholic Church and many of its erroneous manmade doctrines so this recommendation of Dr.Gallagher's findings should be accepted with all that much more credibility. All that my article means to do is to point out a modern day case of demonic possession as revealed by a learned psychiatrist. It does not, however, deem the peculiar exorcist practices of the Catholic Church to be necessarily valid or the most acceptable in treating this possession.
Dr.Gallagher is keenly aware of the many fraudulent instances of so-called demonic possession and clearly distances his case from them. He speaks not only of people with obvious psychological problems but also as well of some prominent televangelists who use this concept to bilk their flocks. His case of a woman, who they call "Julia", however, is one that he describes as showing "that the devil, however rarely, may indeed attack by possession an individual". Julia was raised a Roman Catholic and not only had fallen from the graces of the church but had become an avowed Satanist. She not only exhibited obvious signs of demonic possession including going into a trance and speaking with another voice but she also exhibited 'special occult powers'.
Dr. Gallagher maintained that all the facts presented in this case study were true and verified by multiple and highly credible individuals. "Julia" went herself to local clergy complaining that she was being attacked by a demon or Satan and asked for an exorcism. After being referred to Dr. Gallagher, she was examined by him and found to be 'logical, intelligent and even engaging at times' but definitely was not found to be psychotic.
She would go into a trance. As Dr.Gallagher accurately pointed out, mentally troubled individuals often dissociate and go into such trances, but she exhibited behavior, which was different. Out of her mouth came threats, taunts and scatological language. The booming deep voice (unlike her normal voice) said "she's ours, leave her alone" and they showed contempt for anything religious or sacred. The voice called the nuns 'whores'. When she awoke from the trance she did not remember anything of what was said.
Once again, Dr.Gallagher ruled out Dissociative Identity Disorder.
He assembled a team of 4 Catholic priests, a deacon and his wife, and two nuns. While phone calls were being made to arrange this group, the most bizarre thing happened. That deep demonic voice of Julia's that came forth while she is in a trance, actually materialized itself over the phone lines saying once again "leave her alone, she is ours!" Dr.Gallagher stated, "Julia's trance presence was clearly associated with paranormal events". Objects would fly off of shelves exhibiting psychokinesis. She knew things about the members of the team's personal lives that she could not have possibly known. She spoke in Latin and Spanish, which she did not know. Her trance language was crude, insolent and blasphemous. During her trance she would often levitate six inches off the table and all those present could not push her body back down.
Dr Gallagher wrote, "any attempt to explain away an activity of Satan or the Devil in the Gospels is analogous to irrational skepticism about miracles."
He said, "most argue that cases of demonic possession are outmoded and superstitious and that these are ideas that the church should now disavow." He was correct that there are many cases in the Bible of people being demon possessed and these demons were removed by Jesus and later by his disciples. Once again, I personally do not believe that such demons have to be removed by an exorcism sanctioned by the Catholic Church. Scripture says that the name of Jesus is above all other names (Philippians 2:9) and at hearing it demons tremble (James 2:19). Calling out the name of Jesus causes demons to flee not sprinkling so called holy water on them.
Dr. Gallagher concluded:
"Much superstition, exaggeration, fakery, and sheer ignorance have accompanied the history of both purported miracles and suspected diabolic activity throughout the life of the Church. The harm to the faith and the harm to individuals can be great, a truism never more evident than today. Behind these false traditions, however, as Pascal well grasped, lay the real thing, the originals from which the Frenchman well knew the counterfeits drew their false legitimacy. In this and every age, going back to the Gospels themselves, we refer ultimately to the consistent record of the healing and freeing power of our Lord Himself, on body and soul, as manifested to the unbiased mind. My task here has been to provide some guidance in discerning the counterfeit, but also in acknowledging the very infrequent but legitimate cases of diabolic activity. Contrary to what secular opinion facilely asserts, an objective medical view can confidently conclude that assaults by the devil, like genuine miracles, are rare but exhibit real scientific facts, verifiable to all who are not afraid to confront the truth."
I agree with Dr.Gallagher's assessment even though I do not necessarily agree with his solution. I know one thing for certain and that is that God exists and so does Satan and his demonic hordes. This case proves that without a shadow of a doubt. Remember that demons flee at the name of Jesus because it is the name above all names.
Misskitty's reply:
"I like Stephen Yulish's article about Julia and the demonic possession case. I would like to point out that certain demonologists believe that even though using your faith and envoking the name of Jesus Christ is very useful in getting rid of these demons, they (the demonologists) have a valid point in feeling that one should be very careful when trying to deal with these matters themselves without the help of demonologists or the church, someone who has experience in these matters. This could be hazerdous to a persons health (body wise).One of the things a demonologist might do is to find out who they are dealing with (the name of the demon) right away and with experience the demonologist would know what kind of things to expect in the exorcism. From personal experience I wil say that I agree with this and I am very lucky and blessed to have not encountered such adverse conditions in my own experience, but I could have and would have physically been alone in my dealings with an unknown entity."
