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Religious freedom covers exorcisms

Leonard Pitts is a relentless crusader against bigotry and intolerance ... except his own.

As he does so often, today he's attacking people whose religious practices he finds objectionable.

Of course, the attempted "exorcism" of a "homosexual demon" afflicting a 16-year-old boy at Manifested Glory Ministries in Bridgeport, Conn, presents Pitts with the easiest of targets. The videotaped exercise was strange, dramatic and disturbing. Furthermore, it was based on the premise that homosexuality is an affliction that should be cast from its victim.

It all gives Pitts the opportunity to mock these practitioners as "backward mouth breathers" and bigots, and more seriously to suggest they're guilty of abusing a child.

That's one type of reaction. And I suppose if authorities in Bridgeport, Conn., share Pitts' thinking, they'll send in the police to break up this cult and run them all in for child abuse and maybe hate crimes. 

But I hope more reasoned minds will consider the implications. After all, we are supposed to protect freedom of religion in this country -- and that covers a lot of practices many of us would find uncomfortable.

For me, exorcisms fall into that category. However, the Catholic Church practices exorcisms -- and even the late Pope John Paul II performed exorcisms at the Vatican in front of many witnesses. He wasn't accused of being a "backward mouth breather" or of abusing anyone.

Driving out demons is biblical. The same Jesus who instructed followers to love your neighbor as yourself, turn the other cheek, and to let those without sin cast the first stone also ordered evil spirits from people and told his disciples to do the same.

It seems prejudicial to me for Pitts or anyone else to conclude that the subject of an exorcism is a victim who's being abused. If the young man sought help from his church, and his parents supported the procedure, then what followed was likely a consensual religious practice about which outsiders should reserve judgment.

My church isn't into exorcisms, but our teenagers underwent a 30-hour fast this spring, an exercise that shows support for hunger ministries but also has a spiritual dimension. Maybe some people would brand it child abuse. A 30-hour fast probably is as physically draining as undergoing an exorcism.

I understand the issue in Bridgeport has to do largely with this church's attitude toward homosexuality. But the church has every right to view that subject within the context of its religious beliefs.

It's certainly plausible that a 16-year-old boy who has concerns about his sexuality would go to his church for guidance. He should. I think most Christian ministers would offer counseling. Their first advice to a 16-year-old should be to not become sexually active. Beyond that, there are many directions to take. The goal should be to help a young person struggling with any kind of "demon" to free himself from harmful influences and to put himself on the path God would have him walk. That's what religion is all about.

I admit I find exorcism an extreme reaction. I also admit I'm not in a position to judge.