Exorcist’s prayer team bless house formerly occupied by Boise priest accused of crimes

BOISE (ID)
Idaho Statesman

July 16, 2018

By Katy Moeller

The house where a retired Boise priest lived for 15 years — until he was accused in February of sharing child pornography online and of drug possession — has been cleaned out, freshened up and blessed by an exorcist, according to the priest preparing the property for sale.

“We bless houses all the time,” said Father John Worster, pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church the past three years. “I had our diocesan exorcist and his prayer team come and pray over the house.”

Exorcism is the warding off of demons or evil spirits. It’s more commonly performed on people than houses.

“The actual rite of exorcism involves prayers in which the priest demands that the demon(s) leave the possessed person’s body,” according to a 2017 article on Newsweek.com. “Those present are sprinkled with holy water and the priest makes the sign of the cross on the possessed person’s forehead, as well as laying his hands on them.

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