Deborah Camp in Is it Evil or Mental Illness? Published in Bouncin’ and Behavin’ Blogs

Satan, a real personal being, was created good by God but chose to become evil. As Pope Paul VI stated in a Catholic Telegraph article, evil is not a mere absence but an active force. Satan, a living, spiritual being, is both perverted and a perverter.

Sharing her husband’s opinion, Deborah says:

Michael believes evil acts are perpetrated by mentally ill people and that evil doesn’t exist on its own. He doesn’t think evil is a moral failure because it dances too closely to the notion of religiosity, which he firmly rejects. He, along with others, argues that evil is a biblical term and not a scientific one.

Truth has this most uncomfortable trait: it is completely impervious to our opinion, disbelief, and incomprehension. However genuine our sincerity or how deeply rooted our convictions, the truth remains immutable.

Disobeying laws such as pirating movies or exceeding the speed limit are moral failures. The root of such decisions is concupiscence (the human tendency to sin), something we all have in varying degrees. Let’s not forget the seven capital sins.

The Catholic Church takes a cautious and thorough approach to determine whether a person requires an exorcism. The process involves several steps and evaluations:

1, Initial Contact: The person seeking help typically contacts their local parish priest or diocese9.