SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 15 (UPI) — The Catholic bishop of Springfield, Ill., claiming same-sex marriage is the work of the devil, says he will perform an exorcism ceremony next week.
The exorcism by Bishop Thomas Paprocki at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the state capitol, is officially called “Prayers of Supplication and Exorcism in Reparation for the Sin of Same-Sex Marriage.”
The ceremony will take place Nov. 20, the same day Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign Illinois’ same-sex marriage bill into law, CNN reported Friday.
Paprocki said he is following the orders of Pope Francis, noting when the Pope was an archbishop in Argentina he referred to the country’s legalization of same-sex marriage “a move of the father of lies who wishes to confuse and deceive the children of God.”
“The Pope’s reference to ‘father of lies’ comes from the Gospel of John, where Jesus refers to the devil as ‘a liar and father of lies,’ so Pope Francis is saying that same-sex marriage comes from the devil and should be condemned as such,” Paprocki added.
He noted the ceremony will adhere to the Catholic Church Rite of exorcism, which explains Satan can not only inhabit people but can also invade the church and the government.
“We must pray for deliverance from this evil which has penetrated our state and our church,” he said.
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