On Tuesday I had lunch with the man who is responsible for giving me one of the greatest scares of my life: William Peter Blatty, author of "The Exorcist" and the screenwriter-producer of the film version, which traumatized me (truly) in 7th grade. My piece on him tries to arrive subtly at the intersection of exorcism and abortion -- not to compare the procedures, obviously, but to consider spiritual horror alongside earthly horror (the former made his career long ago, the latter motivates his current activism). I recognize that it's politically dangerous to say that abortion is a horror, but let's all just admit that it's an element of a free society that isn't pleasing to anyone, no matter his or her stance. For Blatty, there are demons still to chase, even at age 85, and I found this fascinating. Anyway, before I get too deep into it, I'd like to excerpt the novel, which is actually one of my favorites. It's an unabashed page-turner, and demands to be read in one sitting, lest the demon remain at large in your mind between reading sessions. This is a quotation from Fr. Lankester Merrin, the titular priest who has battled this demon before, to his apprentice. It's a beautiful, gentle indictment of ourselves, and anchors this supernatural, Catholic tale in the secular, real world.
... I tend to see possession most often in the little things, Damien: in the senseless, petty spites and misunderstandings; the cruel and cutting word that leaps unbidden to the tongue between friends. Between lovers. Between husbands and wives. Enough of these and we have no need of Satan to manage our wars; these we manage for ourselves ...
And how delicious was the pairing of this headline and photo in the paper itself?
