Philippines Opens Asia’s First Exorcism Training Centre for Catholic Priests
Asia’s only dedicated Philippines exorcism centre is training Catholic priests to perform exorcisms while promoting cooperation with mental health professionals. Located in Metro Manila, the Michael Center for Spiritual Liberation and Exorcism opened five months ago to meet growing demand for spiritual care. The facility welcomes priests from the Philippines and other Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and India. Church officials say the centre also provides a private space where families can seek spiritual support.
Centre combines faith with mental health screening
Father Jose Francisco Syquia said the centre was established because requests for exorcisms had increased in recent years. He linked many cases to trauma caused by bullying, sexual abuse, and family separation as relatives leave the country for work. Therefore, the Church decided to create a permanent facility for prayer, training, and pastoral care.
The centre also focuses on helping priests distinguish between psychological conditions and alleged spiritual possession. According to Syquia, every case undergoes evaluation by clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and neurologists before an exorcism is considered. As a result, the Church aims to ensure that people with medical conditions receive appropriate care.
Experts urge balanced approach
Mental health experts, however, continue to urge caution. Psychologist Christopher French warned that supernatural explanations could delay treatment for conditions such as schizophrenia or Tourette syndrome. Likewise, Manila-based psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Tan said many Filipinos visit faith healers or exorcists before seeking medical help because mental illness still carries social stigma.
The Philippines has a limited number of psychiatrists, making access to professional care difficult in many areas. Even so, Tan stressed that mental health professionals do not compete with the Catholic Church. Instead, they aim to support patients with compassion while respecting cultural and religious beliefs.
Father Syquia also believes science and faith can work together. He acknowledged that stronger investment in mental health services could reduce the number of exorcism cases. According to him, spiritual guidance and medical treatment should complement one another to help people facing emotional, psychological, or spiritual challenges.
