Dear Father Angelo, 
I’m a seminarian and I thank you for your work. The question I wanted to ask you is not related to morality – it is rather focused on demonology. Some young people asked me about this and I didn’t know what to answer. Many soccer fans were struck by several news articles regarding famous soccer players which allege that they hire sorcerers of all kinds to protect themselves from injuries, to cause injuries to their adversaries and to influence the performance of their adversaries. Indeed, a famous ex soccer player has stated that he had a famous soccer team cursed so that it wouldn’t win the most important competition (Champions League) and now, after years, he has asked his sorcerers to remove the curse. Is this possible? Can a wizard or a sorcerer influence certain sporting events? If so, why can’t they do the same with other events, such as political elections? I know that this topic is probably not of the utmost importance, but I need an answer to determine if I should just dismiss all these news articles as marketing tricks or if there’s some truth in them – in order to clear things out for my interlocutors as well.
Thank you for your time.
Best regards,
Giuseppe

P.S.: Thank you from all the seminarians who were saved from their doubts before exams by your answers, which are always so clear! 

Priest’s answer

Dear Giuseppe,
1. we cannot categorically exclude the possibility of curses.
It should be kept in mind that resorting to magicians in order to cast curses upon events, people or groups of people is always done with the explicit or implicit help of the devil. 

2. However, we should say at once that the devil cannot do whatever it wants. He is a created thing.
An angel – it’s true – and, although a fallen one, he still conserves his angelic nature which has a certain power on the realities of this world.
However, his influence can only be exercised within the limits set by God. 

3. Therefore, if God does not allow it, he cannot do anything.
This fact already inspires confidence in us, since the principle that God uses to rule all things is His infinite love towards mankind. He doesn’t leave them at the mercy of the adversary. 

4. One of the instruments which God uses to oppose the activity of the devil is benediction, whose strength is superior to that of demons.
While demons can use forces outside of nature, meaning preternatural power (preternatural means beyond what is natural), benediction operates with supernatural power, which is therefore superior to natural or preternatural power.

5. This superior strength is communicated through faith and through certain blessed objects as well, such as the rosary crown, the cross, the medal.
Saint Thomas Aquinas reminds us that the sign of the cross wards off demons and their snares.
He also reminds us that the sign of the cross performed with blessed water, not only casts away demons, but keeps them away as well.
This goes to show how beneficial it is to devoutly carry with us one of the blessed objects we mentioned.
 

6. And, if such is the power of blessed objects, the power of a person who lives in a state of grace is immensely greater, since he casts away demons and their snares, meaning their curses.
We read in Sacred Scripture: “So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (Jas 4:7).
We submit to God by observing His commandments, by removing sin from our lives through sacramental confession and by living in grace.
Therefore, if we live as we should, we have nothing to fear from the devil, from his ministries (the sorcerers), or from his snares (the curses). 

7. Furthermore, we should add that, when the curse does not reach its objective because it is repelled by some supernatural force, it goes back to the person who cast it.
In order to defend ourselves from whichever curse, we must put ourselves under divine protection.
Psalm 91 reminds us of this in very clear terms: “You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shade of the Almighty, Say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.” He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare, from the destroying plague, He will shelter you with his pinions, and under his wings you may take refuge; his faithfulness is a protecting shield. You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day, Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon. Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come. You need simply watch; The punishment of the wicked you will see. (Pslm 91,1:7).

8. Finally, you ask if the devil can influence political elections.
We must remember what was said in the beginning: demons, being angels, have some measure of power over material nature. They have it if God allows them to have it and the same goes for our bodies and our senses, since they are of the material order. But they cannot directly influence the spirit and cannot enter the soul.
Saint Thomas says that “God alone can enter the soul (solus Deus illabitur animae)” (Summa Theologiae, III, 64, 1) and “God alone can know the thoughts of hearts and affections of wills.” (Ib., I, 57,4).
This is because only God maintains into existence everything that exists and communicates to every reality each characteristic it possesses.
Therefore, the result of political elections is not determined by demonic intervention, but by humans’ free will. 

9. It should also be noted that, when God penetrates the soul in order to illuminate our intellect, or to incline our will, He always does it complying with personal freedom: He gives us an inclination, but doesn’t force us.
The action of the devil is limited to the senses.
Of course, the devil can influence us with his evil suggestions, as Didymus the Blind said, but he cannot touch our freedom, which has, in itself, the power to repel every sort of influence. 

I’m happy about what you told me in the post scriptum of your email.
I wish you the best and I will gladly keep you and your colleagues in my prayers.
I bless you.
Father Angelo

Questo articolo è disponibile anche in: Italian Spanish Portuguese