Pope exorcises exorcist

A Vatican flack has denied statements by the Holy See's top caster out of demons, Fr. Gabriele Amorth, declaring that every Catholic diocese will be equipped with a platoon of exorcists.

The papal spokesman said Joseph Ratzinger, a.k.a. Benedict 16, "has no intention of ordering local bishops to bring in garrisons of exorcists to fight demonic possession.”

According to the London Daily Torygraph, Amorth told a Catholic website, Petrus, the teams of exorcists would be deployed to combat “extreme godlessness.” As opposed to mild godlessness, presumably.

“Too many bishops are not taking this seriously,” Amorth added. Well, you can hardly blame them for that, since it takes a degree of extreme sillyfulness to do so. It's difficult to say who's flakier, the demon worshipers or the exorcists and their Vatican City sponsors, since the baseline for flakiness, which they all occupy, is buying into these nonsensical superstitions.

Satan is making inroads with modern youth via rock music and the internets, according to the Vatican. And, quoth Amorth, “Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of darkness, the Devil.”

Also noteworthy is this item from the Torygraph:

A Roman Catholic bishop has caused fury in Spain by claiming that some teenagers "want to be abused."

Bishop Bernardo Álvarez of Tenerife told a newspaper: "There are 13-year-olds who are in agreement and even want it; even, if you don't watch out, provoking you."

Sounds like Ratzinger still has a few demons of his own to expunge.