In the AOL article written by David Knowles titled, "Satan Is In The Vatican, Catholic Exorcist Says," he quotes Amorth, who is the founder and president of the Association of Exorcists, (who became an official exorcist in the Church in 1986, according to the article), "When one speaks of 'the smoke of Satan' in the holy rooms, it is all true."
He is also quoted as saying some other unfavorable and ridiculous things about some Cardinals and Bishops. How much negative news about the Catholic Church can the faithful take? I often wonder how God doesn't lose patience with us. Where would we all be, without God's mercy?
The Church has been in the headlines in Europe with unfavorable news stories of late. There are plenty of online articles which place the Church in a bad light. The Church needs some good public relations and some positive "advertising." The secular media seems to only want to report the sensational, disturbing news and not any of the positive news stories. Most people are not even aware of all the good that the Church does, for instance, all the money that was raised in the U.S. and elsewhere to help the suffering people of Haiti. (This topic came up just this week in a Bible study class I attend.)
The Church needs some "strategic planning" to promote positive news stories about "bright lights" in the Church, the modern day heroes and heroines, the good that is done throughout the world through the work of Christians.
I have a very deep faith, an unwavering faith, but realistically there are people with weak faith and these news stories can be harmful to their belief and faith.
NJA
