Monday, August 13, 2007
Exorcising With Bobby Jindal
At the age of eighteen, Bobby Jindal converted from Hinduism to conservative Catholicism. It was the move that made his career. Being a dark pigmented conservative in a Louisiana that was turning Republican was like having money in the bank. At the age of twenty-fourJindal was named head of Health and Human Services for the entire state. Three years later, he was named head of the statewide university system. Once again, he is running for Governor, and there is a good shot he will win.
The Daily Kingfish has an in depth article about the latest trials and tribulations of Jindal. When his campaign heard word that the democrats were about to launch a series of attack ads against him, they said that his religious faith and the whole exorcism things was out of bounds. Funnily enough, the democrats weren't attacking his faith but the exorcism thing did intrigue people to look into the matter.
The UCF prayer meeting was held in a classroom. A group of people, including Bobby, Susan, and Susan’s sister, sat in a circle on the floor and sang songs and prayed together. Suddenly, right after a group prayer, Susan “emitted some strange guttural sounds.” Bobby thought she may be having a seizure. Susan’s sister told everyone to place their hands on Susan’s body. Bobby “refused” and “froze in horror.” Susan began to scream Bobby’s name. She yelled, “Bobby, you cannot even love Susan.” Bobby thought it was funny she referred to herself in the third person. Bobby walked to the back of the room, and Susan began insulting every person in the room, revealing private information and embarrassing secrets.
Susan’s sister and a woman named “Louise,” who Bobby says was “a member of a charismatic church,” pinned Susan down and prayed loudly and desperately. They yelled things like, “Satan, I command you to leave this woman” and commanded “(all) demons to leave in the name of Christ.” Susan continued shouting. Bobby tried to remain calm, though at one point, he thought he could be having a stroke. Bobby considered calling the campus priest, but he also thought that Catholicism could actually be bogus. He was having questions about his faith. Instead, the students in the UCF meeting continued to pray for Susan. Bobby tried praying, but he became exhausted.
Susan attempted to escape, and during the scuffle, “Alice,” the student leader for Campus Crusade for Christ, “entered the room for the first time, brandishing a crucifix.” They had tried calling a “rival” Christian group to help, but the preacher “denied” their request for help and told them to not to “confront the demon.” Alice made Susan even angrier. Susan tried lunging toward the door. Bobby began repeating the Hail Mary over and over again. He said, “Being new to Catholicism, I had yet to accept the Catholic doctrines concerning Mary and considered any form of Marian devotion to be idolatry.” But he could not think of anything else at the time, so he prayed to Mary.
Susan eventually calmed down because of the crucifix, and her sister brought out a Bible. They all began daring Susan to read passages from the Bible. She would begin to read a passage and then blurt out obscenities. But after reading several passages, Susan changed, almost in an instant. She proclaimed, “Jesus is Lord,” and then told everyone she could not remember “any of the past few hours.”
Susan even asked Bobby if he was okay. Bobby told Susan’s sister he would “commit” to a “nightlife” of prayer for Susan. Susan spent the night in the house of a missionary, because her roommate had pagan-looking decorations in their dorm room.
How do we know all about this story? Bobby Jindal was the one who wrote it up for a widely read journal. Now, we are not allowed to discuss it. Republicans often tell us that we have to vote for them because of their faith, but like Mitt Romney when it comes into the practice of discussing the mechanics, it's officially verbotten.
Exorcism is some freaky stuff. The church doesn't really do them anymore. It's supposed to be done in Latin with a priest if done. The college bible group really doesn't cut it.
Tom Cruise is a person of faith. Does that mean if he runs for office, nobody can discuss what they feel about Scientology? A Voodoo practitioner has faith as well. Jindal's faith seems awfully confused. If it's important that a person have religious belief, can we at least discuss when they act in opposition to church doctrine, or does this only apply to John Kerry's views on abortion and homosexuals?
Just wondering.
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