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24 years ago a US television network aired an actual exorcism...

Uncomfortable viewing.

exor Youtube Youtube

The below video contains images and themes that some may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

TODAY BEING HALLOWEEN, scary movies are likely to be to the fore.

You’ll probably see the Exorcist around – the story of a young girl being inhabited by a particularly nasty satanic spirit and the priests who unite to save her is one for the ages.

But surely such rituals in reality are a relic of the past? Not so it would seem.

24 years ago, ABC television in the US aired footage of an actual exorcism, and it’s quite disturbing (and tonight, there’s even going to be the first ever live exorcism broadcast on television).

The episode of ABC’s 20/20 (with veteran news anchor Barbara Walters) attracted 29 million viewers when it was first broadcast in April 1991.

The process itself involved the casting out of a spirit inhabiting a 16-year-old girl (identified only as ‘Gina’). The spirit itself was named Minga.

The filming of the six-hour process was done with the full consent of the Catholic Church and the clergy involved – two priests who had plenty of experience of the strange ritual.

The show itself is played very straight, albeit O Fortuna (the Old Spice music to you and me) is used over establishing shots which seems a little unnecessary.

You can see the full episode below. Be warned it’s not for the faint-hearted.

American Crime Stories / YouTube

h/t Gawker

Read: Why do we derive so much pleasure from scaring ourselves half-to-death?

Read: Halloween event advertises ‘asylum’ attraction ‘filled with the crazy’

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16 Comments
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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Apr 27th 2015, 1:16 PM

    Go home!!! Your boss might think your brilliant working till 8-9 or even 10pm but it’s not worth it in the long run health and family wise

    215
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    Mute Denis O Brien
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    Apr 27th 2015, 1:19 PM

    yeah . it’s not like the boss will keep you on if they have to loose staff or close down. you’re just a number when in employment.

    96
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    Mute Oisin Conroy
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    Apr 27th 2015, 1:07 PM

    Simple: turn off the TV at mealtimes or eat in the kitchen and not the sitting room.

    188
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    Mute Peter M Buchanan
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    Apr 27th 2015, 1:15 PM

    No phones or tablets at the dinner table.

    171
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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Apr 27th 2015, 3:44 PM

    My telephone is anchored to the wall and my tablets are in the medicine cabinet.

    56
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    Mute Caitríona Redmond
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    Apr 27th 2015, 1:19 PM

    No tv, no wifi, no mobile devices – for a start. Everybody eats the same meal, nobody leaves the table until we’re finished. If we’re finished early then we talk to one another. Even if we all don’t make it to the table at the same time (if someone is working) then everybody else still eats together. It is that simple.

    110
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    Mute Joan Featherstone
    Favourite Joan Featherstone
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    Apr 27th 2015, 2:00 PM

    We always always eat together unless someone is working…never made special meals for anyone (surprising how people came to like previous dislikes!)…no telly…oh and no telly in bedrooms either!

    86
    Lily
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    Mute Lily
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    Apr 27th 2015, 2:41 PM

    Looks liked I would have had malnutrition in your house.

    I’m lucky my mother did me separate meals.

    *my mother had malnutrition growing up due to being a picky eater.

    16
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    Mute Louie Ann Murphy
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    Apr 27th 2015, 2:53 PM

    With teenagers there has to be a No phones at the table . Also they need to help with preparations and clean up.

    46
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    Mute Fatima Murtaza
    Favourite Fatima Murtaza
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    Apr 27th 2015, 4:30 PM

    My 6 and 3 year olds usually compete with each other when setting the plates and cutlery…I hope they continue to do so into their teen years.

    We always share 1 childhood experience (good or bad) of our own with kids at dinner time and wait for everyone to finish before getting up.

    21
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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Apr 27th 2015, 1:26 PM

    I tell them to sit down, shut up, and eat this crap. If they are hungry enough, following physical activity, there is no problem whatever. Articles like this annoy me.

    38
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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Apr 27th 2015, 1:47 PM

    Don’t forget the wooden spoon.

    36
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    Mute See My Vest
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    Apr 27th 2015, 2:32 PM

    Isn’t there a word for people that willingly expose themselves to things that annoy them?

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    Mute Periguin
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    Apr 27th 2015, 2:41 PM

    Masochist?

    5
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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Apr 27th 2015, 2:55 PM

    Yes, a few words actually. However, ‘narky oul’ shite’ will suffice. Give me patience.

    23
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    Mute Periguin
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    Apr 27th 2015, 3:12 PM

    Bad day today Sheik? you were annoyed on other threads. Relax, it will pass.

    12
    Lily
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    Mute Lily
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    Apr 27th 2015, 1:55 PM

    Once a week is enough for us for sit down family meal. The kids are generally hungry straight after school. The husband can finish work any time between 5 and 7.

    Everyone in the house has their own tastes so sometimes I cook 3 different meals at the same time. My husband can’t eat red meat or anything with cream, my one son doesn’t like things spicy (like me), my one son also turned vegetarian for a while (that phase is over), my one son and daughter are the only people in the family who like fish and prawns.

    So meal times are organised chaos.

    As a picky eater as a child I didn’t agree with forcing a child to eat a food they don’t like. I am very happy to feed them what I know they will eat be it a stir fry, roast, curry, pasta and so on.

    32
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    Mute Marty Flood
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    Apr 27th 2015, 3:18 PM

    Finally Lily, a realistic response. All the others were written whilst wearing rose-tinted glasses.

    27
    Lily
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    Mute Lily
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    Apr 27th 2015, 3:45 PM

    I grew up in a ‘eat when you are hungry’ house. No set in stone mealtimes. It was more of a relaxed environment that way. Dad often worked till late at night on a car engine (he wouldn’t leave it till it was fixed) and would have his dinner reheated in the microwave.

    I have been to extended family sit down meals and they are awkward. Expectations for kids to clean their plates, bribery with desserts, no elbows on table, kids getting bored, parents getting irritated. More hassle than its worth sometimes. ..

    18
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    Mute Julian King
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    Apr 27th 2015, 3:29 PM

    No breakfast or lunch does the job!

    26
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    Mute Periguin
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    Apr 27th 2015, 2:37 PM

    Everyone helps in some way prepare, cook and clean. No media interference in family and social conversation

    26
    NIMO
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    Mute NIMO
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    Apr 27th 2015, 6:53 PM

    Hunger is a great sauce. There weren’t too many picky eaters when food was scarce. I understand some people have aversions to certain foods but with kids sometimes give them an inch and they’ll take a mile. They eat what’s for the dinner in our house and if they don’t like certain things in it e.g. Mushrooms, they can pick them out. A little bit of everything.

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    Mute Peter M Buchanan
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    Apr 27th 2015, 5:34 PM

    Spare the rod, spoil the child

    10
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    Mute Denis O Brien
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    Apr 27th 2015, 1:18 PM

    Feed them .

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    Mute markyg
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    Apr 27th 2015, 1:35 PM

    Fresh cod and chips gets them all to the table

    20
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    Mute Sean Mulroy
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    Apr 28th 2015, 12:23 PM

    No trick required. Both our kids have done it since day one. All breakfasts and dinners are at the table with tv off. Its nice.

    1
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