Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of
Springfield, Illinois has defended holding a “minor exorcism”
against a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers, calling it an act
of love.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed the
legislation in November, making Illinois the 16th state to
legalize same-sex marriage.
In response, Paprocki held an exorcism
at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on the same day that
Quinn signed the marriage bill into law.
“I exorcize you; every unclean
spirit; every power of darkness; every incursion of the infernal
enemy; every diabolical legion, cohort, and faction; in the name and
power of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Paprocki said during the hourlong
ceremony which attracted a large crowd of worshipers.
“Dare no more, O cunning serpent; to
deceive the human race; to persecute the Church of God; to shake the
chosen of God and sift them like wheat,” he continued.
In comments to LifeSiteNews.com,
Paprocki called the exorcism a “fitting” response, saying such
services are needed when the “church is under persecution or some
opposition, and certainly the redefinition of marriage is very much
in opposition to God's plan for married life.”
Paprocki
explained that the ceremony was about love.
“Love is to really seek the best for
people,” he said. “And by being opposed to the redefinition of
marriage and being opposed to things that are sinful, that's actually
a very loving thing. … Any good parent will tell you that sometimes
you have to discipline your child, sometimes you have to say 'no' and
sometimes you even have to punish them.” (The video is embedded on
this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)