Paprocki's announcement last week that he would
offer prayers of "exorcism in reparation for the sin of same-sex
marriage" on the day of Quinn's bill signing has drawn nationwide
attention.
In a culture where the concept of exorcism is
primarily shaped by a 1970s horror film, the announcement stirred confusion and
discomfort, which Paprocki has declined to resolve. Even the Chicago
Archdiocese's designated exorcist declined to answer questions about the public
rite that is more often private.
In fact, some Catholics believe the ritual Wednesday
could cast off more Catholics than demons. On Tuesday, 14,000 petitioners
called on the bishop to cancel the event.
"It may be edifying and it may be raw meat for
people on the Catholic right for whom this is a make-or-break issue," said
Michael Budde, a political science professor who is chairman of Catholic studies
at DePaul University. "There's always a danger of tying things like
Christian ritual to politics of the day to the extent that you politicize
liturgy."
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