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Priest arrested in alleged exorcism
By NCR Staff
A Roman Catholic priest in Mexico
was arrested recently after allegedly presiding over an exorcism in which
several participants were burned or beaten, according to news reports from
Mexico.
Warrants were issued by a Mexican judge Aug. 14 for Fr. Francisco
Fuentes for burning a participant with candle wax in an attempt to break
demonic possession of her body, according to an Associated Press report.
In an unrelated incident, seven people died of apparent carbon
monoxide poisoning during an alleged exorcism ritual in the Mexican state of
Tlaxcala. The deaths occurred after a local faith healer burned charcoal in an
enclosed room in order to heal a young man said to be possessed.
According to the Mexico City newspaper Reforma, Fuentes
said that in performing the exorcism he was merely carrying out his duties in
the city of Cholula, 65 miles east of Mexico City.
National Catholic Reporter, September 1,
2000
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