Illinois bishop plans exorcism in response to state's marriage equality victory

Equal marriage “comes from the devil and should be condemned as such,” says the Illinois church leader

Published November 15, 2013 2:02PM (EST)

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn plans to sign his state's marriage equality measure into law Wednesday of next week, which also happens to be the day that Bishop Thomas John Paprocki plans to stage a mass exorcism to "counteract" the new law, which, he notes, “comes from the devil and should be condemned as such.”

Paprocki, head of Springfield’s Roman Catholic diocese, also believes the lawmakers who passed the equal marriage law are “morally complicit as co-operators in facilitating this grave sin.”

“It is scandalous that so many Catholic politicians are responsible for enabling the passage of this legislation and even twisting the words of the pope to rationalize their actions despite the clear teaching of the church,” he said in a statement.

“All politicians now have the moral obligation to work for the repeal of this sinful and objectionable legislation. We must pray for deliverance from this evil which has penetrated our state and our church.”

Nice guy.


By Katie McDonough

Katie McDonough is Salon's politics writer, focusing on gender, sexuality and reproductive justice. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com.

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Equal Marriage Gay Rights Illinois Lgbt Rights Marriage Equality Religion Roman Catholicism