'The Exorcist' Features Mercy-Killing Nun

November 11th, 2016 11:27 PM

To follow-up on the adulterous priest (which still continues by the way), Friday night’s episode of Fox's The Exorcist delivers yet another awful depiction of religious figures. This time, it is a nun who must be demeaned as she actually suggests “mercy killing” as an option.

In “Chapter Six: Father of Lies,” the ex-communicated priest Marcus (Ben Daniels) brings the possessed girl Casey (Hannah Kasulka) to a convent led by Mother Bernadette (Deanna Dunagan). The sisters try their hardest to exercise the demon, but the demon perseveres, rotting the body from the outside. When Casey’s suffering increases, we get this exchange between Marcus and the nun.

Marcus: Why is Casey sedated? There, 4:00. Why is she sedated?

Bernadette: I ordered the sisters to give her a tincture of Passionflower. If I can't wake her up, then I can't exorcise her. I'm afraid our professional opinions have parted ways.

Marcus: What are you saying? No.

Bernadette: Tea made from the leaves will bring about a swift and painless end.

Marcus: No!

Bernadette: Why do you think God allows His children to suffer?

Marcus: Wh-- I don't know. So university freshmen have got something to argue about in their dormitories!

Bernadette: Sometimes, suffering is just suffering. It serves no higher purpose. It simply is.

Marcus: God is not the source of Casey's suffering.

Bernadette: Needlessly torturing a young woman whose body is rotting before our eyes, who has zero hope of recovery, that is not compassion.

Marcus: What, and killing her is?!

Bernadette: Why do you think we grow the belladonna? Do you think we simply release the integrated back into the world like mad puppets? Spare her now. We spare her soul. Continue this, and the demon will take her. But you know this. We'll tend to her wounds, but the sisters and I will take no further part in the exorcism. At some point, you have to ask yourself whether you're continuing this for Casey's sake or your own.

I’m surprised the show never went down the road of killing Casey, but do they really expect me to consider a nun to go against Church teachings and say this? I’m sure they’ll have to lecture us later on the profound irony of the former priest being more dedicating to saving the girl’s life than the traditional nun. Just another knock on Catholicism from liberal Hollywood.