Andrew Sullivan Pretends to be Canon Lawyer on Bobby Jindal

But perhaps he did stay in a Holiday Inn Express .

The Bobby Jindal Exorcism story is of course making the rounds. This is really nothing new and in fact was noted by the National blogs and media when he ran for Governor.

The Democrat in Louisiana last year quickly got off this attack because they came to the realization it would backfire. At that point someone was thinking straight in the Dem Office in Baton Rouge.

A few notes here. The reason these articles in the New Oxford Review are used against Bobby Jindal is that is difficult to use the original Article. Despite Jindal being an contributor to that magazine they came down like a ton of bricks on people that were defending Jindal that were posting big excerpts of the article or providing links to uploaded copies without paying for it. For example even on a friendly forum like Free Republic that would have been defending him they had to pull the article for copyright complaint.

This is one reasons why these articles are used. The State Louisiana Democrat party in their horrific Anti Catholic Campaign against Jindal used these to their advantage when they accused Jindal of being prejudiced to Protestants!!!!

The New Orleans Picayune did a great piece showing how the Democrat party was being deceptive and how they were using New Oxfords view toward their Product to their advantage.

Which leads us to Andrew Sullivian. The latest hit job on Jindal is started off of course by this post that curculated the net. We learn that poor Andrew Finds it bizarre , and Creepy.

Then Andrew Sullivan makes a enormous claim that Bobby Jindal VIOLATED CANON LAW .

Now Andrew showed his vast knowledge on the subject by directing his reader to this piece on from the The Catholic Encyclopedia. The Catholic Encyclopedia that is online here is of course a incredible resource. However I think it has escaped Andrew's attention who no doubt was wanting to be helpful that this is the 1909 edition!!!! Needless to say there has been some developments since then. By the way the Jindal Bashers wildly quote this Catholic Encylopedia article and get so much wrong as to current practice.

Now let us return to the piece. Let us recall that this happened while Bobby was in College. It also occurred among his Evangelical friends. Needless to say I do not think they were using the offical Rite of Catholic Exorcism thus we are left with the question of how Jindal violated Canon Law. This is for all purposes a prayer meeting and is very similar to what we would see in the Catholic Charismatic movement in what they call "deliverance" prayer. This is different than a offical exorcism that is the subject of the Canon Law that supposed Canonist Sullivan cites!!! Oh the details.

If Andrew Sullivan had used Google for 5 minutes instead of stopping his research at the text of the Canon Law and resting his case on the 1909 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia he would not misinform so many people about his faith.

For instance he might have come across The following document of September 29, 1984, from the Sacred Congregation of the Doctrine by Cardinal Ratzinger(now the guy that lives in the Vatican) . Go see Inde Ab Aliquot Annis- On The Current Norms Governing Exorcisms. Oh dear Andrew isn't this Internet thing great!!!

As you can see the Cardinal says what the Canon covers!!! It appears that not even Jindal was in ignorant violation of it.

I shall quote in full:

Excellentissime Domine
For some years there has been an increase in the number of ecclesial gatherings which seek liberation from demonic influences, even though they are not properly and truly exorcisms. These groups, even when a priest is present, are led by lay persons.
Since the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has been asked what ought to be thought about this, this dicastry is of the opinion that all other ordinaries should have the following response:

Canon 1172 of the Code of Canon Law declares that no one is able to legitimately undertake exorcisms of the possessed unless expressed and individual permission has been obtained from the ordinary of the place (section 1). The canon also establishes that this permission ought to be conceded by the ordinary of the place only to priests who are distinguished in piety, knowledge, prudence, and integrity of life (section 2). Bishops are, therefore, strongly urged to see to the observance of these norms.

From these prescriptions it follows, therefore, that no member of the Christian faithful can use the formula of exorcism against Satan and fallen angels, extracted from that which was made law by Leo XIII, and even less are the able to use the entire text for exorcism. Bishops are to bring this to the attention of the faithful as it is deemed necessary.

Finally, for the same reasons, bishops are asked to be vigilant that -- for even cases in which true diabolical possession is excluded, diabolical influence nevertheless seems in some way to be revealed -- those who do not have the required faculty not serve in the leading of meeting where, in order to gain freedom, prayers are used which dignify demons by directly questioning them and in searching to make known their identity.

The announcement of these norm, however, ought not to keep the faithful from praying that, as Jesus taught us, they might be delivered from evil (cf. Mt 6:13). Finally, pastors ought to avail themselves of this occasion to recall what the tradition of the Church teaches about the proper function of sacraments and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and the saints in the spiritual fight of Christians against evil spirits.

May I take this occasion to convey my great feelings of esteem for you, remaining your servant in the Lord,
Joseph Card. Ratzinger, Prefect.

Oh dear those facts are getting in the way. Andrew is doing a great disservice by confusing to Catholic concepts. That is the official rite of Exorcism and what is known as deliverance.

Take special notice of paragraph 3, which has been broadly interpreted by most bishops to mean that any non-formal prayers of deliverance (not exorcism) may be used by qualified laity in the deliverance ministry, as long as no direct communication with demons is conducted, such as demanding their names to be revealed, etc. (see the italicized portion of that paragraph). This interpretation of the bishops follows the mandate of Jesus in Mark 16:17: "Believers will be able to cast out demons in my name, by my power." This has been further extended in the more recent document accompanying the new ritual of exorcism, in which qualified laity may participate with a priest, even in exorcisms (not just prayers for deliverance), as Jesus taught us to pray, in the Our Father, "Deliver us from the evil one."

The only potential problem is this as we see in the above article about the event Jindal witnessed:
"The students, led by Susan's sister and Louise, a member of a charismatic church, engaged in loud and desperate prayers while holding Susan with one hand. Kneeling on the ground, my friends were chanting, Satan, I command you to leave this woman." Others exhorted all "demons to leave in the name of Christ." It is no exaggeration to note the tears and sweat among those assembled. Susan lashed out at the assembled students with verbal assaults.

Once can ask if perhaps the use of imprecatory language is a issue here in light of Canon law . Again I am not a expert in the Catholic Charismatic renewal and as to permitted forms. Of course it should be noted that Jindal is not participating in a informal Catholic activity here or a ministry or group that pertains to be part of the Catholic Church. A point that somehow gets ignored. However as we see in the article Jindal who appears to have been more of a prayful observer seemed to praying the Hail Mary. That is in fact an example of what would be permitted.

Regardless it not clear to me that Bobby being on the scene as it were and what is printed show that Bobby was in ignorant violation of Canon Law. A serious charge that perhaps should not be done lightly even if the person was accused was ignorant.

At this point it is good to look at the Vatican Document Instruction on prayers for healing –; ...
It says in part:

Art. 8 – § 1. The ministry of exorcism must be exercised in strict dependence on the Diocesan Bishop, and in keeping with the norm of can. 1172, the Letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of September 29, 1985,(31) and the Rituale Romanum (32).

§ 2. The prayers of exorcism contained in the Rituale Romanum must remain separate from healing services, whether liturgical or non-liturgical.

§ 3. It is absolutely forbidden to insert such prayers of exorcism into the celebration of the Holy Mass, the sacraments, or the Liturgy of the Hours.

Art. 9 – Those who direct healing services, whether liturgical or non-liturgical, are to strive to maintain a climate of peaceful devotion in the assembly and to exercise the necessary prudence if healings should take place among those present; when the celebration is over, any testimony can be collected with honesty and accuracy, and submitted to the proper ecclesiastical authority.
Art. 10 – Authoritative intervention by the Diocesan Bishop is proper and necessary when abuses are verified in liturgical or non-liturgical healing services, or when there is obvious scandal among the community of the faithful, or when there is a serious lack of observance of liturgical or disciplinary norms.

Needless to say Bobby is not in violaton of this. If Jindal had started getting the Roman Rite of exorcism out on her well that would have been a different question.

Now I am not expert on these things. I am not endorsing people go out and perform Deliverance ministry and I am especially not endorsing that Catholics do it with various Charismatics and Pentecostals. I would contact the local Charismatic Renewal Office for more information and facts. I will note that Jindal to my knowledge is not involved in such activities and this appers to be a one time event that came to be because he was in the right place at the right time.

Still , I suspect many like myself did some things that would have made Hugh Hefner blush in College. If this is the worse they got on Bobby then that is telling!!!

I do wonder many Christian voters that Obama is going after have witness healings they cannot explain. I know I have. wonder what they are thinking about these attacks