Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki kept his promise on Wednesday and performed an "exorcism" on the state of Illinois after Gov. Pat Quinn (D) signed a bill legalizing same sex marriage.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Paprocki kicked off his exorcism service only 30 minutes after Quinn's bill-signing ceremony had ended.
"In an unusual use of public services, the exorcism included two armed Springfield police officers stationed inside the church vestibule where parishioners entered from the street," the Sun-Times noted. "At one point during the service, one of the officers strode to the front of the church, though his purpose was unclear. There were no disruptions during the hourlong event."
In front of 500 followers, Paprocki asked God to "deliver us from evil” caused by same sex marriage.
“I exorcise 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,” he said. “Be uprooted and put to flight from the Church of God from souls created in the image of God and redeemed by the precious blood of the divine lamb.
“Dare no more, oh cunning serpent, to deceive the human race, to persecute the church of God, to shake the chosen of God and sift them like wheat."
“Be gone Satan, father of lies, enemy of human salvation,” Paprocki said at the conclusion of the exorcism. “Give way to Christ, in whom you found no trace of your works. Give way to the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic church, which Christ himself won by his blood.”
Although no cameras were allowed in the church, the bishop spoke to WICD following the service.
"I'm not just singling out any one issue here, but it could be. It depends again on your intention, why are you voting for that person and if you're, in a sense, voting for someone precisely because you are -- you have the intention of trying to promote something that is gravely sinful," he explained. "Well then, you are putting your salvation in jeopardy."
