Priest jailed for exorcism death
Pastor Dale Morgan
Priest jailed for exorcism death*
A Romanian priest has been jailed for 14 years for conducting an
exorcism that led to the death of a nun who he believed was possessed by
devils.
Irina Cornici, 23, died after being starved and chained to a cross at a
secluded convent in the north-east.
The ritual in 2005 was led by Daniel Petru Corogeanu, 31, the priest at
the Holy Trinity convent in Tanacu village.
He and four nuns were convicted of manslaughter. The nuns got jail terms
ranging from five to eight years.
Nicoleta Arcalianu got eight years, while Adina Cepraga, Elena Otel and
Simona Bardana were given five-year sentences.
All the defendants plan to appeal against the verdict in a case which
has shocked Romania.
The Orthodox Church, which described the Tanacu incident as
"abominable", has promised reforms, including psychological tests for
those seeking to enter monasteries.
It banned Corogeanu from the priesthood and excommunicated the four nuns.
In 1999, when the Vatican issued its first new guidelines since 1614 for
driving out devils, it urged priests to take modern psychiatry into
account in deciding who should be exorcised.
After hearing the sentence, Corogeanu said: "We will appeal and hope
that it will succeed. We didn't expect this sentence, but this is the
judge's decision. We will pray to God for help."
Dozens of Corogeanu's supporters packed the courtroom and several burst
into tears when the verdict was announced, AP news agency reported.