The devil's Cathedral

bear no mortal sin

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Outside the church after the Mass, Bishop Conrad was bestowing hands-on people who came to him for prayers and the blessing of sacramentals. Granny was among those who were there while shola was standing by the side playing religious apathy. The girl was watching shola but when his eyes caught her, she turned and walked away out of sight. When granny was done, She and should both left the area to head home. The Bishop was surprised at who he saw standing below the stairs of the church entrance. It was Rev.fr. Vincent Churchill, the parish priest of St.Micheal parish Ojo, Badagry. He is a white priest and a Religion teacher at St.Micheal Memorial High School. They both stood there looking at each other till the Bishop made a move and welcomed him with a handshake.

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The Bishop then escorts the Rev.fr. to his office as they exchange pleasantries. Bishop Conrad was anxious to know what might have brought Fr. Vincent to the cathedral that early in the morning so he stops on getting to the door of his office and asks fr. vincent what has brought him. The Rev.fr. observes him for a while, then the bishop got uneasy with his display and ushered him into his office. When they were sited, fr. Vincent's glance caught a book of Evil spirits (The greater keys of Solomon) on the bishop's desk so he reached for it and placed his right hand on it and continued gazing at it like he was lost. The bishop saw this and coughed out aloud to get his attention away from the book. The rev.fr. now turns to the bishop and the bishop asks what brought him to the cathedral. Fr. Vincent then tells him that he has come to get authorization to conduct an exorcism. On hearing this, the bishop intentionally tried all the best to debunk every claim and attempt fr. Vincent made towards securing the authorization. Bishop Conrad first asked him to prove it was r case of demonic conduct. He asked him whether the doctors(physicians and psychiatrists) have carried out the necessary examination to be sure that all the proof father Vincent gave was not a case of mental or physical illness. Fr. Vincent when asked about the signs he noticed had earlier told the bishop that the victim " vomits strangely large amount of stenchful substance a normal human won't vomit, Manic-depression, the victim complained of hearing knocking, poundings and inhuman voices telling her she would die) e.t.c... The bishop said all this proof can be debunked by medical examination so he can't authorize him to carry out an exorcism. The father tried to argue that it is a case of urgency, he said the medical team was conducting tests before he came to the cathedral, he believed it was a demon possession because he felt the presence of a foul spirit but him asking for authorization is just trying to fulfill all righteousness. He said the doctors would surely not find anything but he allowed them to try so he will get approval. The bishop tells him that asides from the medical approval, he will need third parties to testify to having observed paranormal activities. The father continues trying to convince the strong-headed bishop, telling him he has been to various exorcisms in London with late bishop Bigard when he was still learning under him as a priest, he knows when it is a demon and knows how to fight them but the bishop rhetorically asked him "do you". The bishop told him that if he wants to talk about the late bishop that he should bear in mind the bishop was killed by a demon-possessed priest. He said the bishop was a renowned successful exorcist and his( fr. vincent) master but couldn't detect the demon in his fellow clergymen and was killed. The bishop now asked the father whether he is better than his formal master which Rev.fr. Vincent replied that the difference between him and his master was the gift of discernment. He has it but his master doesn't. His master the late bishop had to run tests to prove it was a demon possession before exorcism but he doesn't, he senses a demonic presence.

Then Bishop Conrad starts to look at him and the priest asks rhetorically that he wonders how a powerful exorcist like the Bishop will end up being defeated by a demon in a colony. He continued by asking " it was in this cathedral all this tragic event occurred right?". The bishop became nervous but still firmly told the priest that he(the priest) has not conducted exorcism but was only an errand boy for the late Bishop so he is not even fit to lead an exorcism. The priest replies immediately stating on one occasion, he exorcised a boy after the demon has attacked late Bishop Bigard, he took over the exorcism and with strong and blunt faith commanded the demon Andras to leave the boy in the name of Jesus. Bishop Conrad tells him it's true, that he heard of the event but that's not enough, He said if the doctors confirm it's not a health-related issue, he will send for an experienced exorcist from London to conduct the exorcism. "But that will take a long while, the girl would be dead by then," the priest says. Bishop Conrad tells him a blunt NO and forbids him to carry out an exorcism. In disappointment and suspicion t, the priest stands up without a word. As he was leaving the sit, he turns and takes a look at the book he saw earlier and comments " The Bishop was killed by a demon in this cathedral, you must be very much in need of this Book". He turns towards the door and starts to leave as the bishop stares on in anger and guilt. Before the priest leaves the door, the bishop tells him he should have had plans for a confession if he had plans for an exorcism? But the priest answers him "BEAR NO MORTAL SIN" and I haven't forgotten how to say the "ACT OF CONTRITION". He leaves the door and closes it, the Bishop's face remains angry and sweaty even with the cold as his heart races on.