Church leaders angrily condemned UK's Channel 4 last night over plans to broadcast a live exorcism. TV morality campaigners also slammed the idea, branding it harmful and dangerous.The programme, called Exorcism, will be shown next month.An insider said: 'The aim is to test the science involved.'It would involve officials from the church and leading scientists and we would monitor precisely what happens during the process.'Taste Sky TV are planning a separate show called When Exorcisms Go Wrong, featuring amateur videos of rites from around the world.Broadcasting watchdogs Ofcom say demonstrations of exorcisms and other 'occult practices' should not be shown on factual TV 'except in the context of a legitimate investigation'.But a source said: 'The producers will insist they should be allowed to broadcast the exorcism on the grounds that it's a form of scientific experimentation and a legitimate part of church practice.'Whether the broadcasting authorities see it like that is another matter.'A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland branded the show 'a ratings-grabbing attempt to push the boundaries of taste'.He said: 'Each exorcism deals with very complex psychological, spiritual and emotional issues which cannot be easily monitored or measured.'To try to analyse some kind of scientific results would be a non-starter.'Groups like Mediawatch, founded by the late Mary Whitehouse, claim shows about the paranormal can harm vulnerable viewers.

They blame the BBC's Ghostwatch, a spoof Halloween show 13 years ago, for driving a young viewer to suicide.John Beyer, Mediawatch director, said of the Channel 4 exorcism: 'This sounds very dangerous and is likely to cause considerable unease. Getting ratings is all the broad- casters are bothered about.This is not only ill-advised, it could be harmful.'If Ghostwatch is anything to go by, vulnerable people do take notice. Surely someone killing themselves as a consequence of a TV programme should be enough to set a precedent.'A spokesman for Channel 4 confirmed the exorcism programme was planned for later in the year.

View: Full Article | Source: Daily Record

Ah, I was wondering how it was determined that the subject being exorcised did indeed need it done. I would hate to see an actor pretending.
And if your a TV executive looking for some one to do an exorcism on, do you advertise in the local paper, ask police for candidates, visit mental hospitals, scan U.M. Forums? And why didn't they call me. Id introduce them to my wife!

LOL.

For my opinion on the article(not ROGER), I see little wrong with making available anything to the public with regards to paranormal claims.
And to say that it should be withheld because it might harm vulnerable views, potentially leading to suicide, so what!! That's like saying we should withold information on UFO's or an ateroid strike because some people might go crazy or kill themselves. TOO BAD!!

I think what they're really afraid of the panic that happened
when the movie "The Exorcist" first came out.

People were going to churches to be exorcised!

Now if they put out a real encounter, maybe they might
get possessed through the TV! LOL

It's just like a church to keep things under it's skirts
and away from the public. It's a control thing that
needs to be nipped in the butt!

LOL! It would probably be very interesting to watch and if the church doesn`t like it they dont have to watch it!

The whole idea is stupid. An execisism is a religious practice, there's no "science" involved. Man, they'll televise anything for ratings.

I thought that religious tolerance was part of being a good American. You know like whats on the dollar bill. Out of many--One.

i don't see anything wrong with showing a live exorcism. if they say "the following images may be disturbing to some viewers" then they aren't responsible for somebody who committed suicide after watching it. but they should show it late at night to make "vulnerable people" less likely to watch it.

I've never seen better comedy than exorcisms, so I have no problem with it (Unless it starts taking over TV)

I wonder if theyll be playing it straight like ghostwatch (without the poor acting) then tell us it was all a fix the next day. I dont see a problem with it give the viewer a lot of warnings, put it on late and they should be covered.

A TV show here in America, 20/20, showed an exoricism live several years ago. Oh, it was probably 15 years ago I bet. I was just a little kid and I remember hiding behind the couch because it scared me so badly.