Philippine school for exorcists draws priests from Asia as cases ‘pile up’

Asia’s only dedicated exorcism centre – designed to train not only Philippine priests but clergy from across the region – sits just off a busy thoroughfare in Metro Manila.Inside, neatly made-up rooms for visiting priests line warmly lit halls that lead to a chapel where the 400-year-old ritual takes place.Holy relics employed in the proceedings line one wall, another features a one-way mirror that allows family members and novice exorcists to observe.The Michael Centre for Spiritual Liberation and Exorcism – five months old this week – was built because “cases were piling up”, Father Jose Francisco Syquia said.Trauma driven by bullying, sexual abuse and the pain of separation as family members leave for work abroad had increasingly opened the door to spiritual attacks, he said.“We had to find a more permanent and secure and private place to pray over people,” Syquia said.