Priest investigated for fake exorcisms

Father Francesco Saverio Bazzoffi, a priest in Florence, is being investigated for fraud for performing "fake exorcisms." From the Catholic News Agency:

Prosecutors alleged that Father Francesco Saverio Bazzoffi would “stage shows” before crowds of more than 400 people at the House of the Sainted Archangels, an organization he founded.
According to prosecutors, the priest’s associates would “pretend to be possessed by demons” and Father Bazzoffi would allegedly exorcise them using obscure rites.
The priest would then offer to heal members of the audience who were sick and solicit donations to his organization.
“During Mass, the priest spoke in Aramaic, and strange things happened. I do not know if it was group hysteria or our suggestibility, but I remember one old woman screaming in a man's voice while five big guys held her down,” one witness told police, according to the Telegraph.

So as long as he can prove that his associates really were possessed by demons, he should be able to beat the charges.

Religion Scams

Posted on Mon Apr 07, 2008


Comments

Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Mon Apr 07, 2008  at  01:18 AM
Shurely it's down to the prosecution to prove that the prist's associates were not possessed by demons?
Posted by outeast  on  Mon Apr 07, 2008  at  01:51 AM
Actually outeast, it depends upon the law in Italy, which I think requires you to prove your innocence.

And CMG, they knew it was Aramaic because their univresal translator identified it as such.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Mon Apr 07, 2008  at  12:23 PM
I find the whole concept of demonic possesion to be a throwback to times ruled by superstitYOU WILL BURN IN THE DEEPEST PITS OF HADES FOR YOUR FAILURE TO BOW BEFORE MEious idiots who thought that demons and ifrits were around every corGIVE ME MY TRIBUTE OF BLOOD BEFORE YOU ARE CONSIGNED TO AN ETERNITY OF UNSPEAKABLE HORRORner. What the hell is wrong with some peoYOUR MOTHER KNITS SOCKS IN HELLple? Damn, Sam
Posted by Hairy Houdini  on  Mon Apr 07, 2008  at  07:07 PM
"And CMG, they knew it was Aramaic because their univresal translator identified it as such."

Oh, you mean those things that allow us to understand the aliens on Star Trek (even though their lips are clearly speaking English words and not the alien language the U.T. is allegedly interpreting)?
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Tue Apr 08, 2008  at  02:06 AM
I wondered how long it would take my reference to get commented upon. Just over twelve hours. Good job CMG. Yes, I often wondered about the UT. It worked even upon first meeting an alien race without flaw. Except one episode of DEEP SPACE NINE where they showed the computer needing hours to understand the speech of an alien race - needed for a small bit later in the show when one of the main characters needed to misunderstnad what the aliens had said earlier.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Tue Apr 08, 2008  at  09:44 AM
So how exactly do you tell the difference between a fake exorcism and a real exorcism?
Posted by Big Gary  on  Wed Apr 09, 2008  at  04:18 PM
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