Exorcisms are now only performed in one German-speaking diocese in Switzerland after Chur called time on the practice.
Keystone / Arno Balzarini
A Catholic diocese in Switzerland, once dubbed the ‘Eldorado of exorcisms’, has decided not to fill its vacant exorcist post, as it seeks to keep up with the times.
The last exorcist of Chur died in 2020 after reputedly lifting a number of possessions during his career in southeast Switzerland.
But the diocese’s new bishop, Joseph Maria Bonnemain, will not advertise for a replacement. “We don’t have to look for unusual causes for most problems,” he told Swiss public television, SRF.
“In most cases, people are simply suffering mental or psychological stress. They need support, prayers, a blessing or other appropriate services – but not necessarily a major exorcism,” added Bishop Bonnemain, who is also a qualified doctor.
Ongoing disputes
Bonnemain was appointed by Pope Francis last year with a mandate of solving ongoing disputes between conservative and liberal Catholics in the diocese.
For years, Chur attracted people from neighbouring countries because it was one of the few places in the wider region that performed exorcisms.
“You could say that the diocese of Chur is the Eldorado of exorcism in the German-speaking world – almost a place of pilgrimage for people looking for exorcisms,” Swiss religious scholar Georg Schmid told SRF in an interview five years ago.
Basel is now the only Catholic diocese in German-speaking Switzerland that continues to perform exorcisms – which it refers to as ‘liberations’.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Politics
Why cars still reign supreme in ‘rail-nation’ Switzerland
Uri voters clear path for hotel and marina complex in central Switzerland
This content was published on
Voters in canton Uri in central Switzerland have rejected a Green Party initiative aimed at regulating the development of the lakeside site in Isleten.
Valais voters reject plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040
This content was published on
Voters in canton Valais in southern Switzerland have turned down a proposal for the region to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
Swiss central banker wants to boost equity to head off risks
This content was published on
Equity levels at the Swiss National Bank (SNB) are much too low for the risks its large balance sheet poses, according to Martin Schlegel.
Beer sales in Switzerland watered down by bad weather
This content was published on
The past brewing year fell through in Switzerland, partly due to the bad weather. Beer sales shrank again. For the first time, per capita consumption fell below the 50 liter mark.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss town seeks outgoing hermit
This content was published on
“Are you an idealistic, religious person who gets joy out of meeting people?” asks the notice in the regional Protestant Press publication advertising the position. While those criteria may not seem to meet those of a typical hermit, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper reports that hermits who previously occupied the position were often overwhelmed by…
This content was published on
The cloisters are still very active. More than 80 Benedictine monks live there, organising pilgrimages, teaching in the school and even playing the starring role in the local play. The square in front of the more than 1,000-year-old monastery is currently doubling as a stage, where the residents of Einsiedeln have been performing their “world…
This content was published on
The resort of Scuol in the Lower Engadine holds the largest and best-known Chalandamarz festival on March 1. Youths gather early in the morning, dressed in traditional goatherd shirts and caps adorned with papier mâché or silk flowers. The ear-splitting bell ringing is meant to scare away winter and all the evil spirits associated with…
This content was published on
As Brother Klaus, he acted as a mediator between the powerful Swiss cantons, gaining a reputation as a man of peace. Many still make the pilgrimage to the national saint’s birthplace and hermit’s cell, deep in the heart of Switzerland. It’s 9am in Flüeli, canton Obwalden, around 70 kilometres from Lucerne. Several visitors are already…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.