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From the High Desert

A Cultural History of Art Bell

Thumbnail for March 5, 2006: Catholicism, Exorcisms, and Evil - Rama Coomaraswamy

March 5, 2006: Catholicism, Exorcisms, and Evil - Rama Coomaraswamy

Mar 5, 2006
2h 28m
0:00 / 0:00
Art Bell welcomes Rama Coomaraswamy, a former thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon turned Catholic priest who was a close friend of the late Father Malachi Martin. Coomaraswamy shares stories of his friendship with Martin, including the revelation that Martin believed a demon struck him down in the fall that led to his death. He confirms Martin possessed a genuine gift of discernment, once identifying strangers on the street as involved in a murder.

The conversation turns to the state of the Catholic Church, with Coomaraswamy claiming the post-Vatican II Mass is invalid because it altered the words Christ specified for consecration. He argues this departure from traditional sacraments has opened clergy to evil influences, contributing to the pedophilia crisis. He describes assisting in roughly 30 exorcisms and recounts how Martin mentored him in the practice after seminary training offered no instruction on the subject.

Coomaraswamy discusses the third secret of Fatima, confirming Martin read it in a car with Pope John XXIII but was sworn to silence. Callers press him on homosexuality and church doctrine, the nature of perfect possession, and whether evil entities have infiltrated the Vatican.

Key Moments

  1. Malachi Martin knocked down by a demon: Coomaraswamy says Father Malachi Martin told him a demon knocked him down, causing the head injury and brain hemorrhage that ultimately killed him; that same day Martin said it was Christ, not he, who said the Mass.

  2. Reading the Third Secret of Fatima: Coomaraswamy says Martin claimed to have read the Third Secret of Fatima in a car with Pope John XXIII, swore not to reveal it, but warned that if you imagine the worst, it is worse than that.

  3. Around 30 exorcisms with Bishop McKenna: Coomaraswamy reveals he has personally assisted in roughly 30 exorcisms performed by Bishop McKenna in addition to the house exorcism Malachi Martin sent him to.

  4. Seminaries don't teach about the devil: Coomaraswamy confirms what Malachi Martin told him: neither he nor most priests received any seminary training on the devil or exorcism.

  5. Possession up 800 percent in New York: Coomaraswamy concurs with Malachi Martin's claim that demonic possession in the New York area has risen 800 percent and ties it to clergy abuse and homosexuality.