Demonologist Lorraine Warren Discusses New Movie 'The Conjuring' Exorcism and Faith
The new horror film "The Conjuring" opens in theaters later this week and chronicles the true story of the Perron family, who encountered demons after moving to their new home in Rhode Island during the 1970s. Their home was once occupied by a woman named Bathsheba Sherman who allegedly was involved in the occult, which could have been the root cause of their issues.
Renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren heard about the issues the family was having and investigated the occurrences happening within the Perron home -- a real life incidence that is mirrrored in the film. They eventually diagnosed the problem as demonic in origin.
Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) are devout Catholics in the film who specialize in the spiritual realm. The film is based on the actual experiences of the Catholic couple with the Perron family. The Warrens were also involved in the infamous "Amityville Horror."
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Lorraine recently spoke to The Christian Post regarding her real life experiences with the demonic, and if "The Conjuring" gets it right when it comes to what actually happened with the Perron family.
The Christian Post: Does it bother you to see some of these terrifying moments of your life recreated in "The Conjuring"?
Lorraine Warren: If I could only explain to people how not to get involved in certain things where the occult is concerned. I [wish] I could explain that to them. I also would like to explain to people who [believe they] have seen ghosts not to be afraid because you could never get hurt by them. People are afraid, and things like that bother me.
CP:So it bothers you that people might be afraid of what they see?
Warren: Yes, and especially people that have no faith that are seeing all these [hauntings]. [They might ask] "How do you protect yourself?" ... the only way to protect yourself is through your faith. ... If I could only get over that hill for people to understand that if they had faith and they witness all of these [demonic encounters] that they could call on God and ask for his protection. That's really my goal.
CP: How did you know you were called to do this type of work in the spiritual realm?
Warren: I was educated in a private Catholic girl's school. And for awhile I noticed things about myself that I didn't understand, such as shadows around people. I tried to tell the nuns and I was punished. I was told to go into the chapel and say prayers. ... some of them didn't truly understand me. I'm glad I stuck with it because now I can help people to understand that with faith they can protect themselves. But they must have faith in God.
CP: During "The Conjuring" your husband Ed, played by Patrick Wilson in the film, performs an exorcism without the permission or assistance of the Catholic Church. What is your criterion when it comes to performing an exorcism? And was that a real event in your life?
Warren: In the Perron case, the family at that time did not have any religion. I don't know how it is now. There were six children and a mother. The father worked in New York and he came home usually on weekends. So [my husband] ... would command the demons in the name of Jesus Christ to go back to where they came from. He always did it in God's name.
CP: So it's basically your faith that gives you power to cast out demons?
Warren: It is the faith. If help is needed, that is the only way you're going to get it.
CP- Are you familiar with the parts of scripture where Jesus casts out demons? How close are your experiences are to what is found in the Bible?
Warren: They are very close sometimes. I've seen a lot and thank God for my faith. I thank him all the time.
CP: Do these demon-possessed people have the great strength that is seen in some of the Biblical accounts of possession?
Warren: Yes. That is difficult. In most cases, if you are really dealing with something that is heavy than it really requires clergy. You can quiet the family down by praying in the name of Jesus and commanding the spirit to go back to where it came from, but you must be in a state of grace yourself when you're doing something like that. But when you get into those heavy cases of possession and things of that nature clergy is really essential.
CP: Do you believe that a Christian or someone who is indwelt with the Holy Spirit could be possessed by a demon?
Warren: If they ask for protection they will get it.
CP: So if they don't ask, they could risk being possessed?
Warren: That's hard for me to say. I find after all of these years if you say prayers in the name of God that he is going to help you. But then there are other times when it requires clergy for an exorcism.
CP: How close is "The Conjuring" to your actual real life experiences?
Warren: I think they did a pretty good job. I can remember the places where it was very bad such as the dirt cellar [in the Perron home]. I can remember my husband going down the stairs and there was a professor from a university in New Haven, Conn. who wanted to see what was happening in the Perron home.
When I came a few minutes later Ed signaled me to go upstairs. When I got to the top of the stairs and I looked in this room and it was all dark and this grotesque face was in there and I made the sign of the cross in the air and said, "in the name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave and go back to where you came from." That was a bad case. And with that particular case there was all those children. (The Perrons had five girls). That Bathsheba Sherman who lived there a long time ago, she was performing witchcraft which had nothing to do with the Perron family, [but caused them a lot of problems when they moved to the property].
"The Conjuring" opens in theaters on July 19.
