Is Bobby Jindal -- Who May Be On McCain's Veep Shortlist -- An Exorcist?
Bobby Jindal, the 36-year old governor of Louisiana, is being taken seriously by the national press as a candidate on the shortlist to be John McCain's Vice President. No one doubts that he's a political prodigy -- his impressive resume includes stints as president of the state university system, a Congressman and now governor.
But one of Jindal's job titles hasn't gotten much attention -- and it just might prompt a few questions if his Veep candidacy gains steam: Exorcist.
As others noted during his 2003 and 2007 gubernatorial campaigns (see update), in an essay Jindal wrote in 1994 for the New Oxford Review, a serious right-wing Catholic journal, Jindal narrated a bizarre story of a personal encounter with a demon, in which he participated in an exorcism with a group of college friends. And not only did they cast out the supernatural spirit that had possessed his friend, Jindal wrote that he believes that their ritual may well have cured her cancer.
Reading the article leaves no doubt that Jindal -- who graduated from Brown University in 1991, was a Rhodes Scholar, and had been accepted at Yale Law School and Harvard Medical School when he wrote the essay -- was completely serious about the encounter. He even said the experience "reaffirmed" his faith.
Jindal's affection for battling demons never surfaced during Jindal's failed run for governor in 2003 or his successful one in 2007. The state Dems did make an issue in 2007 out of Jindal's extreme Catholicism and his view of Protestant tenets as heretical, but the effort provoked a backlash among voters who thought the assault was religious bigotry. So Dems didn't make an issue out of Jindal's experiment.
But Jindal's battle with the dark forces may become an issue should his Veep candidacy proceed. While it's hardly a blockbuster revelation, it could provide fodder for bloggers and late-night comics to turn his candidacy into a media sideshow.
If you're interested in the details about Jindal's spiritually experimental past, we have lots more for you after the jump. It's lively stuff.
In the essay (purchase required), Jindal describes an emotional friendship with a classmate, "Susan," recently diagnosed with skin cancer and reeling after the suicide of a close friend. Susan's behavior becomes stranger, and she is surrounded by "sulfuric" smells. Finally, one night at a prayer meeting, she collapses in a seizure -- and the exorcism begins:
The students, led by Susan's sister and Louise, a member of a charismatic church, engaged in loud and desperate prayers while holding Susan with one hand. Kneeling on the ground, my friends were chanting, "Satan, I command you to leave this woman." Others exhorted all "demons to leave in the name of Christ." It is no exaggeration to note the tears and sweat among those assembled. Susan lashed out at the assembled students with verbal assaults.
Jindal then describes how the whole situation made him physically uncomfortable, and he wondered if the same demon afflicting Susan was responsible for his state of nervousness:
Whenever I concentrated long enough to begin prayer, I felt some type of physical force distracting me. It was as if something was pushing down on my chest, making it very hard for me to breathe. . . Though I could find no cause for my chest pains, I was very scared of what was happening to me and Susan. I began to think that the demon would only attack me if I tried to pray or fight back; thus, I resigned myself to leaving it alone in an attempt to find peace for myself.
After a lull in the event -- it in fact lasted "a few hours" by Jindal's reckoning -- Susan attempted to run away, but was dutifully pinned back on the floor by her friends:
Maybe she sensed our weariness; whether by plan or coincidence, Susan chose the perfect opportunity to attempt an escape. She suddenly leapt up and ran for the door, despite the many hands holding her down. This burst of action served to revive the tired group of students and they soon had her restrained once again, this time half kneeling and half standing.
After what sounds like a number of hours, and a failed attempt at getting help from a preacher (he refused to assist), the exorcism finally concludes in dramatic fashion:
It appeared as if we were observing a tremendous battle between the Susan we knew and loved and some strange evil force. But the momentum had shifted and we now sensed that victory was at hand.While Alice and Louise held Susan, her sister continued holding the Bible to her face. Almost taunting the evil spirit that had almost beaten us minutes before, the students dared Susan to read biblical passages. She choked on certain passages and could not finish the sentence "Jesus is Lord." Over and over, she repeated "Jesus is L..L..LL," often ending in profanities. In between her futile attempts, Susan pleaded with us to continue trying and often smiled between the grimaces that accompanied her readings of Scripture. Just as suddenly as she went into the trance, Susan suddenly reappeared and claimed "Jesus is Lord."
With an almost comical smile, Susan then looked up as if awakening from a deep sleep and asked, "Has something happened?" She did not remember any of the past few hours and was startled to find her friends breaking out in cheers and laughter, overwhelmed by sudden joy and relief.
Jindal writes proudly about the experiment's conclusion: "When the operation occurred, the surgeons found no traces of cancerous cells. Susan claimed she had felt healed after the group prayer and can remember the sensation of being 'purified.'"
Jindal's office has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Late update: This post originally asserted that we "discovered" Jindal's essay, but several readers have brought to our attention that we are not the first to blog on this subject. Daily Kingfish and DailyKos discussed Jindal's exorcism experience during his gubernatorial campaigns in 2003 and 2007, and Jezebel parodied it as recently as last month. The topic has renewed relevance now that Jindal is being discussed as a possible vice presidential candidate. But credit where credit is due for these earlier reports.
Uh....I'm Catholic, and that sounds flat-out fucking crazy.
June 11, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me too.
Jindal = Kook
June 11, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
What do you want to bet that both "cancer" and "satan" are code words for gay and that Susan, having suffered through this process, was cured of her homosexuality?
I'm only half joking. I have nothing against religious people, but wackos are wackos no matter what they worship.
I'll stick to the Flying Spagetti Monster, thank you very much. At least us Pastafarians know how to have a good time!
June 11, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps it sounds crazy, but within the ranks of the neoPentecostal movement, which flies under the name of the Charismatic Renewal in Catholic circles, such things are far from rare or unusual.
Among Catholic leaders in LA is Bishop Sam Jacobs. From 1989 to 2003 he was bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana. Since October 10, 2003 he's been the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Bishop Jacobs is a former chairman of the U.S. National Service Committee of Catholic Charismatic Renewal and Chairman of the U.S. and Chairman of the U.S Bishops Committee on Catholic Charismatic Renewal.
Here's a sample of Bishop Jacobs' writing: "Since God wills all to be saved, so the grace of Baptism is meant for all, even though not all will accept this grace or, if accepted, not all will respond fully to it. In the same way the grace of Pentecost is meant for all, though not all will receive it, or, if received, may not understand the scope of it."
Those in the Pentecostal churches have practiced "binding and casting out demons" for many years. The standard text on this so-called deliverance ministry is the late Rev. Don Basham's "Deliver Us From Evil," still available in paperback. Basham, who was the longstanding editor of Charisma magazine, was also one of the main proponents of the "shepherding" or "discipling" movement.
These guys are serious. And they really believe it.
June 11, 2008 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Edit: not Charisma magazine (that's Jamie Buckingham), but rather New Wine magazine. My bad.
June 11, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
My ex-wife is a lapsed Catholic, and a native New Orleanian. I lived there as well for a couple years back in the '80's, and can certainly attest to the prevalence and profound influence of the Church in that state.
I myself have witnessed too many things in my years which defy ready explanation. That said, I don't buy this story as told; sounds like the feverished product of a youthful mind.
From a strictly political perspective, however, I'd consider this a non-starter. Perhaps not quite third rail calibre -- but, in the deep South -particularly in Louisiana- attacking or mocking him for this would engender sympathy for the dude.
June 11, 2008 7:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
We know a guy in New Orleans who swears that Popeyes chicken is lacking an apostrophe because it's subliminal -- "Pope Yes!"
June 12, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll let you in on why "Popeyes" is missing the apostrophe. It's no mystical or subliminal thing at all. Al Copeland, Sr., the owner of Popeyes Chicken, just passed away a few months ago, by the way.
The reason Popeyes has no apostrophe is because when he first started the business, he was short on funds and got the least expensive lettering available at the time. It's that simple.
After the "Chicken King" built his fast food empire, he could have afforded a name that stretched from California to Florida - ha !
Have a nice day!
June 14, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dear Coral Sea,
I grew up in the New Orleans area as well, and I'll have you know that the Catholic Charasmatic Church is alive and well!! It is HIGHLY believable that an exorcism can take place, by those who have the faith and courage to do it, that is. Don't you know that the Vatican has a whole team of exorcists? A lay person that has spiritual knowlege of how to confront a demon CAN successfully coach one out of a spiritually possessed person, although a priest is recommended. Bet you'd change your mind in a hurry if you ever get in the position of having a demon inside of YOU! Here's something for you to think about: The devil has not retired!
God Bless You!
June 14, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
When you describe yourself as "Catholic", do you mean that you were baptized Catholic, attend Sunday Mass, and subscribe to the deposit of faith which is the basis of Roman Catholicism Tradition? If that's the case, the better description would be "Practicing Catholic"... Given your gratuitous, inappropriate use of the "F-bomb" in your post, I'm assuming you are more accurately described as a Lapsed Catholic, Former Catholic, or Marginal Catholic.
Being "Catholic" is like saying that you are a "Guy", or an "American", or even a "Saggitarius" for that matter... In the broadest sense, it refers to all who have been Baptized by the Catholic Church. The next step up are the "Hatch 'em, Batch 'em, and Dispatch 'em" Catholics, followed by the Christmas and Easter Catholics, the Lapsed Catholics, the Ex-Catholics, and then the Radically Anti-Catholic ex-Catholics.
Apparently, Mr. Jindal is "Catholic" in a much deeper sense. He expereinced the opposite side of the Catholic Faith Spectrum, a small group of the Faithful who have been blessed with an extraordinary infusion of the Holy Spirit, eminating from a retreat at Duquense University. At that event, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the students in a very special way, and from it grew the modern Charismatic Catholic Movement - sanctioned by Rome and very active today.
Jesus promised that He would send His Holy Spirit as a 'Paraclete' and His people would work great wonders... the Catholic Charismatic Movement takes Jesus at His word. And by the way, Devils DO severely and negatively impact people... they are very real.. the biblical 'fallen angels'... Lucifer... the one who tempted Christ Himself. Jesus assures us that we who are infused by this Holy Spirit do have power over demons, as well as sicknesses and emotional bonds.
So don't be too quick to judge those who take Christ at his word... much less curse and criticize them. Jesus is just as real and just as present today as he was 2000 years ago.. "When two or more are gathered in My Name, I am there with them". We as Catholics believe since conscience reigns supreme, no one who follows his informed conscience will be misled.
Don't take my word for it, though... find a Charismatic Mass in your community, if you still attend. If you don't attend, please just divulge some other attribute of your identity as an indicator of who you are, like your Zodiac sign, your favorite Star Wars character, of if you prefer boxers or briefs... that would be a more meaningful and accurate picture of where your heart lies.
June 12, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
You superstitious fool. How would you know what this Jesus character promised? Did he write it down? Do you really believe there is some deity some place that gives a rat's ass about you or this place? There is no heaven, no god, going to come down to save you or anyone else.
June 12, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
And just as I can't 'prove' to you there is a God or a Heaven, neither can you prove there is not. Faith is a gift... we don't earn it, and it's a mystery why some have it and others apparetly don't have it, or choose to supress it.
Christians have Christ living in them - He is a very real presence... the center of our lives. We have Him there 24/7.. in our sufferings, in our joys, in our tribulations. He is a river of hope when we are hurting; a comforter to the mourning, and a merciful Brother. He is a trusted friend whom we walk with, an inner being we are constantly aware of... He brings Joy, and we communicate with him much more intimately than we are doing here in the Blogosphere... Only difference is that Jesus knows his flock, and you don't know me from Adam.
And I'm not going to call you names or otherwise insult you for your comments... Call it the Jesus Factor.
Sorry you must endure your trials and tribulations without the aid of a loving Father in Heaven.
Seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened for you. I pray you might be 'opened minded' enough to give it a try... He's listening...
June 12, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
yes sir, I agree that you are not only a fool but also an idiot if you 'believe' you have 'Christ' living inside of you...no amount of intellectual/ theological, self-righteous, mental masturbatory exercise you displayed here will 'prove' your crackpot religious delusions...as an escaped catholic, I can teel you that the Jesuits and other Catholic 'intellectuals' have been spouting this garbage for years and all it proves is that you all are overeducated religious zealots in the doctrinal and dogmatic nuances and arcane languege of your religious delusions. NO ONE has (or will) ever proved that Christ even existed and your Bible has so many contradictions (not to mention the many books left out due to early church leader's political beliefs) as to make any argument such as yours ridiculous to begin with...soooo take your mythological creatures and rum along now, or maybe pick another deity that's more fun (and less lethal) than your Jeebus, like maybe Zeus or Thor...now there's a cool god for ya! (or try Mithraius...he was the 'Sun God' before Jeebus ever thought of it?!)
June 13, 2008 9:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Indypain, there's no need to call someone a fool or an idiot because you don't share that person's views on religion. It is widely accepted, by religious scholars and historians, that Jesus lived on this earth some 2000 years ago. By the way, in case you don't know, the Gregorian calendar (used in the US and most of the world) is based on (our estimate of) the time of birth of Jesus (Anno Domini - in the year of our Lord).
June 14, 2008 7:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I feel sorry for you that you have no connection to the love that is freely offered to you by Jesus. Your screen name "indypain" may be a reflection of your inner self -- in pain? Are you a happy person?
You seem to be intelligent, only "intelligence" can't connect you automatically with Jesus. He is supreme intelligence. What He's looking for is your heart. Open it and give Him a chance and you will be wonderfully surprised. I did.
God Bless You and have a nice day.
June 14, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, many individuals wrote down what 'this Jesus character' promised. In fact they wrote also of his birth, life, ministry, and death. These works are referred to as 'the Gospels'. And yes, we (Christians, Muslims and other believers) believe that God loves and cares for all of us.
June 14, 2008 8:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
You poor, poor thing. Lucky for us, God doesn't think and act the same way that you do. I will pray for you to see the truth.
God Bless You !
June 14, 2008 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amen to Destrehandave!!!
You go, Dave. You're right on the money.
The Catholic Charismatic Church is alive and well, and those who are involved are blessed by the day and night.
Besides, that guy wouldn't be using such profanity, regardless of what kind of "Catholic" he is....it's disgraceful.
God Bless You !!
June 14, 2008 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Flufferwink -- bet you won't feel the same way if it was YOU who had the cancer and was told that a demon may be the cause of it!!!! It happens. Period. Been Catholic all of my life and instead of knocking exorcists, you should be thanking God that there are people out there who have the COURAGE AND SPIRITUAL WISDOM to help people. Here's something for you to think about: Do you honestly believe that Satan has retired?? Have a nice day, my friend.
P.S.: The Vatican has a whole team of exorcists. They aren't sitting around playing with Elmo - ha.
June 14, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bobby Jindal is a certifiable whack job. What kind of educated person believes in things for which there is no evidence (demons) and refuses to accept a theory for which there is overwhelming scientific evidence (evolution)? If I had a ten year old who believed this nonsense, I'd be concerned, but I'd be apoplectic if I had a GOVERNOR who believed in demonic possession. This is the 21st century, yet there are people like Jindal who are still living in the 13th century, at least when it comes to devils, demons, angels and things that go bump in the night.
June 27, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please, let's make this man one very weak heartbeat away from the Presidency.
June 11, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I once subscribed to the Oxford Review...shoulda kept it active
June 11, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not the Oxford Review, the New Oxford Review. They are different publications.
June 11, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hands down best headline in a while....
June 11, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's good for the goose...
June 11, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it really?
June 11, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's also not forget Jindal's unorthodox position on the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
June 11, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, there are several theories for how inorganic matter could give rise to organic matter - and life. He's just cherry picking what he wants to see.
June 12, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bobby Jindal has scared me since I first heard about him. This not only confirms my suspicions, but makes him much, much scarier than I could have ever imagined. Thanks TPM!
June 11, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the Obama camp response to the McCain slam about Jim Johnson:
June 11, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fluff, who's on the McCain VeepVet team? I know McCain said he's doing it himself, but that seems pretty impossible, given his schedule, and his obviously faulty memory.
Using The Google, I couldn't find anything. Do you know of anything?
June 11, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I don't know who's heading the VP team. Dick Cheney? Carly Fiora?
June 11, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Arthur Culvahouse
http://mccainsource.com/corruption?id=0012
June 11, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Robert Redford! So McCain has a very recently former lobbyist running his VeepVet. Hmmmm.
June 11, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Between this and the whole "the Congressional Democrats won't agree to the same donation restrictions Obama does!" complaint, it appears that the McCain camp's new message is something like "Obama is bad because he's too similar to us". Aside from whether or not it's accurate, it doesn't seem like this is an angle that's really going to succeed in making McCain look any better to voters...
June 11, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hate that bitch Fiorina!
Damn her to hell for driving HP into the ground and turning it into a soulless corporate entity.
June 11, 2008 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
hi everyone. I've been a reader here for a while, but just decided to make an account so that I could comment. My first comment is this:
THIS MAN FREAKS ME OUT!
June 11, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome....
June 11, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about this freak out?
I picture the meeting: Prez McSame with Angela Merkel, but he thinks (said it too!) that Putin is the president of Germany. Cut to his VP Jindal... who, presented with the possession of Putin by Merkel, begins an exorcism
June 11, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
he's harmless.
he's our governor.
he hasn't done anything stupid (other than endorse mccain and be present for the jello night). and since he has not caused any major catastrophes since taking office a few months ago, he is adored in Louisiana.
the only minor burp is that today the louisiana legislature voted themselves a raise and he said he was outraged (!), but that he wouldn't veto.
June 11, 2008 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your governor is a nut case, pure and simple. Anyone who believes in exorcism in the 21st century has a screw loose and I wouldn't let him near my children if he was behind bars.
June 27, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, put a minority candidate on the Republican ticket, lol. He won't grab any new voters with that, but he will sure as hell lose quite a few who will see McCain as one heart attack or stroke away from handing the country over to an A-rab. (Republican's view, not mine)
June 11, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lux,
Just to clarify, Jindal is not an "A-rab" but a Punjabi Indian. Born a Hindu he converted to Catholicism during high school.
Over the past few years I have had the experience of getting to know several South Asians who happen to be Christian. The Christian churches in India all trace their origins to the Apostle Thomas and just like the Western Chirstian church has experienced schisms and reformations causing a variety of Christian churches that have a unique variety of Christianity.
While Jindal acquired his Christianity here in the US, it may be reasonable to conclude that his Christianity reflects, at least in part, the Indian Christian tradition. My experience is that this tradition is very conservative in general and is highly intolerant of other religions in India (Hindu, Islam, etc) but also similarly intolerant of each other even to the point of overtly ridiculing each others traditions.
These are my general observations and I do not claim to be an expert. As a Liberal, my experience has made me suspicious of my understanding of Christianity as a loving community when compared to these various religions from the Indian Sub-continent.
June 11, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm an American born to Indian parents raised as a Christian - and while what you say about the intolerance of Christianity in India is partially true - it is really a truism of Christianity in most non-western countries. I think most of it has more to do with the relatively rigid cultures than Christianity itself. That being said, the way Christianity is practiced is about as wide a spectrum as you can imagine in this country alone, and when made to include the rest of the world it widens it much further.
June 12, 2008 2:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that McCain won't put a person of color on his ticket, nor a woman. He has enough problem with the ultra-conservative branch of the GOP as it is. He'll pick an uptight white guy. Mitt Romney anyone?
June 11, 2008 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I kinda doubt he'll put a pencil-necked geek who parts his hair in the middle on the ticket either. Even if he has a nice shit-eating grin to go with his own.
June 11, 2008 11:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Finally a female blogger! Welcome aboard, Kate!
It's about time.
June 11, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, it's funny how the blogging world seems to be like 50 years behind the real world. Or maybe it's just TPM. Still waiting on nonwhite blogger.
June 11, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
While he is not a TPM blogger; I recommend The Rogue Columnist (http://roguecolumnist.typepad.com/rogue_columnist/) to satisfy your non-white blogger craving.
June 11, 2008 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, in our culture women have real friends in real life to talk to. Men, however, need a machine as a mediator.
And you are surprised that there are few women on the blogs?
That's A reason, not THE reason, of course. But it is a significant one.
June 11, 2008 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a female blogger! A lurking female blogger. :-)
I was raised Catholic and my parents are in the Latin mass, Mel Gibson version of the church. The people who refused the Vatican II changes. I remember my mom telling me that there were multiple exorcisms of the attendees of Vatican II. hmmm, I thought, at the ripe old age of 12, that sounds pretty strange. I thought everybody in there was sworn to secrecy. How'd that story get started?
Anyway, this particular story doesn't surprise me, but doesn't thrill me either. All organized religion is a bunch of hoo-ha as far as I'm concerned. And religion should be kicked OUT of the governance of our country.
June 12, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fair enough, but he wrote this as a Rhodes scholar while at Oxford. I don't see what his views or beliefs on exorcism have to do with his job as a VP. Unless perhaps, he decides to exorcise demons from potential supreme court justices. Fyi, I'm for Obama.
June 14, 2008 8:17 AM | Reply | Permalink