GAY MAN SUBJECTED TO CHURCH EXORCISM WINS COMPENSATION
Sheffield, United Kingdom – 15 July 2025
A disturbing modern case of religious zeal and psychological abuse has emerged from the city of Sheffield, England. A 32-year-old man has received compensation following an unauthorised “exorcism” ritual conducted by a local evangelical church that claimed he was “possessed by demons of impurity” due to his sexuality.
The victim, whose identity remains confidential for privacy reasons, reported being forcibly restrained during a night-long prayer session in which church elders attempted to “cast out” supposed spirits through chanting, fasting, and the laying-on of hands. The man later suffered severe trauma, anxiety attacks, and sleep paralysis — symptoms commonly associated with post-exorcism syndrome, a term used by psychologists to describe emotional breakdowns following coercive spiritual rituals.
Following an investigation, the Sheffield Diocese Safeguarding Board ruled that the church had failed to obtain consent and violated human rights protocols. The incident sparked renewed discussion about the psychological dangers of exorcism performed outside formal ecclesiastical oversight, particularly within independent ministries lacking theological training or medical collaboration.
Spiritual Warfare and Modern Identity
The case has reignited debate over how ancient notions of “spiritual warfare” intersect with modern understandings of identity and mental health.
While some religious groups continue to interpret homosexuality as moral corruption linked to “demonic influence,” others within the Christian community have condemned such practices as spiritual abuse — an unethical manipulation of belief systems to control or shame individuals.
According to Dr. Helena Ward, a psychologist specialising in religious trauma, “When faith becomes a weapon against the self, it ceases to be faith and becomes a mechanism of control. What we see in these exorcisms is not liberation but psychological bondage.”
The Lingering Shadow of Possession Beliefs
Exorcisms, both sanctioned and rogue, continue to occur across Europe.
Though often sensationalised in media, many stem from sincere beliefs in spiritual affliction, generational curses, or energy contamination. Yet, without ethical boundaries, such rituals may blur into psychological harm — a modern manifestation of mind control through spiritual authority.
Occult World Commentary
This case echoes earlier reports of possession rituals misused as social correction — where the target is not a demon but the person’s nonconformity.
It highlights how ancient rites of purification can be twisted into instruments of repression. Whether framed as religious discipline or supernatural intervention, the underlying power dynamic remains one of domination masked as salvation.
Source:
The Guardian, “Gay man subjected to exorcism by Sheffield church receives compensation,” 15 July 2025.
www.theguardian.com/world/
