Wilkinson, Tracy

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Wilkinson, Tracy

PERSONAL:

Education: Vanderbilt University, B.A.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Rome, Italy. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

United Press International, reporter; Los Angeles Times, reporter, 1987—.

AWARDS, HONORS:

George Polk Award, 1999.

WRITINGS:

The Vatican's Exorcists: Driving Out the Devil in the 21st Century, Warner Books (New York, NY), 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

Journalist Tracy Wilkinson, who directs coverage of Italy, the Vatican, Spain, Turkey, Greece, and the Balkans for the Los Angeles Times, explores the Roman Catholic rite of exorcism in The Vatican's Exorcists: Driving Out the Devil in the 21st Century.

While many people may think of exorcism as an outdated practice, Wilkinson shows that the number of exorcists—particularly in Italy—has risen in recent years; indeed, in 1999, the Church amended exorcism protocols to require the bishop of each diocese to appoint a diocesan priest as official exorcist. Wilkinson goes on to explain that, as practiced today, exorcism is not like the dramatic procedure depicted in popular culture (such as in the hit film The Exorcist), in which a demon is driven out in a single fantastic episode. Most often, it is a long-term process requiring several visits to the designated priest, who offers the Church's standard exorcism prayer for the victim.

Wilkinson explains the Church's official teachings on demonic possession and reports that most people seeking exorcisms are women. Moreover, many of the problems that compel the victim to seek spiritual assistance can be seen as evidence of mental illness. For this reason, the Church requires the victim to undergo psychiatric evaluation to rule out any medical or psychological pathology before making a determination to proceed with an exorcism. Wilkinson incorporates case studies and material from interviews into her book, including interviews with Gabriele Amorth, the controversial Italian priest who is believed to be the chief proponent of exorcism within the Vatican. She also discusses what pushes people to request an exorcism. As she writes in a passage quoted by a Publishers Weekly reviewer, "In a world awash in catastrophe and unspeakable suffering, many people feel increasingly compelled to see evil in concrete and personified—not to mention simplified forms, and to find a way to banish the bad."

Many reviewers found The Vatican's Exorcists a balanced and informative book. James A. Overbeck, writing in Library Journal, noted that Wilkinson "offers many skeptical insights about the practice" and also cites the views of mental health professionals who criticize exorcism as a potentially dangerous practice. A writer for Kirkus Reviews, however, found the book relatively superficial and lacking in scholarship; the critic felt that Wilkinson did not address issues raised by anthropologists and cultural historians. Observing that Wilkinson excels in depicting the individuals with whom she became acquainted in researching the book, Temple News writer Peter Chomko felt that her lack of bias often seems "more uncertain than professional." The Publishers Weekly reviewer, however, appreciated Wilkinson's insights into the dynamics of exorcism and her ability to combine "fascinating history" with "thoughtful commentary from proponents and skeptics alike."

Wilkinson has covered several major international stories, including the Contra War in Nicaragua and the war in the Balkans. In 1999, she won the George Polk Award for her coverage of the Balkan conflict.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, February 15, 2007, June Sawyers, review of The Vatican's Exorcists: Driving Out the Devil in the 21st Century, p. 18.

Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2006, review of The Vatican's Exorcists, p. 1262.

Library Journal, March 1, 2007, James A. Overbeck, review of The Vatican's Exorcists, p. 90; June 15, 2007, Deb West, review of The Vatican's Exorcists, p. 111.

Publishers Weekly, December 11, 2006, review of The Vatican's Exorcists, p. 65.