Expert: Tom Schott - 12/3/2008

Question
I will try to make this as simple as possible.  I am a woman in her 50's, a
lapsed Roman Catholic, separated and living now with my only surviving child
who is 8 years old and profoundly autistic.

I believe in God and am a baptized Catholic.  I currently live in the northwest
of the US.  I have been married twice, both times in the Church.  My first
husband died of natural causes.  My second husband developed dementia,
harmed both me and our son and so I left him and am on my own now with
our child.

I seriously believe that about 20 years ago a spell or curse of some kind was
placed on me and my family.  An egg was left on the front porch of my
parents' home.  At the time, I and my first husband and my parents lived in
this home.

My  husband picked up the egg (there was no shell to be seen and the egg
yolk was not broken) and threw it out onto the street.

Shortly after, everything went wrong.  Absolutely everything.  He sickened
and died.  My parents sickened, one by one and died.  Within three years, I
lost every member of my family. My husband's family, too, suffered multiple
losses and they were all young people - ages 17, 52, 55 and so on.

Bad luck has plagued me and mine ever since.  Illness after illness, financial
loss of a grievous and continuous nature.  No issue is ever resolved.

I have gone to two priests in different locations and asked about the curse or
spell aspect.  Both have said it probably was a curse which surprised me
because I thought they would pooh-pooh the idea.  They gave me blessings
and said to throw myself on God's mercy.

I worry for my son.  I have struggled long and hard in the face of almost
impossible obstacles and suffering.  I am isolated, alone.   All but my son are
gone in one way or another.  I fear for him because he is vulnerable.

What I want to ask is there an exorcism or deliverance that I could ask for
from the Church?  Is there a process?  I would do anything just to have it
overwith, if possible.

I have tried every practical way I know of and then some to turn my life
around.  My motivation is great; the love for and life of my child.

My parents had quarrels with neighbors and there were a lot of people from
Europe living in the area.  They might have known ways of casting a spell.  I
don't know.  I had no quarrel with anyone.  But it doesn't matter.  If there is a
negativity on my life and, worse, to follow my child for the duration of his life,
I want to put a stop to it.

I don't want to turn to psychics or faith healers.  I firmly believe the power of
the Catholic Church, the power of God through a priest would be the only way
to stop any further damage.

It would not bring back what or who I have lost, but perhaps, it would clear
the future path and enable me to try and find a life of peace and some joy for
myself and for my son.

I would sincerely appreciate your honest answer and thank you for your time
in reading this.

Answer
Susan,

My heart goes out to you in your suffering and in the suffering and tragedy you have had to endure for so long. Let me tell you at the outset that I don't agree with the two priests who told you that your troubles are the result of a spell being cast upon you. I cannot believe that anyone would tell you this. The fact that so many awful things occurred in your life following this egg incident is nothing but =terrible coincidence=. It is not from a spell cast upon you by foreigners.

I assure you that your continued courage, faith, and prayer will bear fruit. God's power is unlimited. You should ask as many people as possible to pray for you and to continue to pray for you, including priests. I also assure you that power of God does not need a priest to work. God's power manifests itself in many, many ways, through many kinds of people, some of them not even Christians.

You and your son are in my prayers, and I will ask the people of my parish and my family to pray for you also.

May God hold you in the palm of his hand and bestow his blessings upon you in abundance.