| Most people have either read the book (1971) or seen | | | | Roland's body in front of his eyes. The Reverend |
| the film (1973) 'The Exorcist', where a young girl called, | | | | realised that time was now of the essence and |
| Regan MacNeil was thought to be possessed by | | | | recommended the Doe family contact the Catholics. |
| demons. However, in reality, this film was based on the | | | | Roland's parents were by now so desperate; they |
| true life events of a boy named, Roland Doe. | | | | decided to take Roland to see Father Albert Hughes |
| This story became the inspiration for probably one of | | | | at St. James Catholic Church in Mount Rainier. |
| the most popular horror films of all time. | | | | In the meantime, a very concerned cousin of Roland's, |
| The writer, William Peter Blatty became inspired to | | | | who was a student of Father Raymond J. Bishop at |
| write this book after he discovered there were diaries | | | | St Louis University confided in him about the |
| of the exorcism, written by the Jesuit Priests during | | | | paranormal activity taking place in the Doe household. |
| and after Rev. William S. Bowdern's repeated | | | | After concluding he had no doubt she was speaking |
| attempts to exorcise thirteen year old Roland Doe. | | | | the truth, he decided to discuss this matter with his old |
| In 1949, William Blatty was an English major student at | | | | friend, Rev. William S. Bowdern. |
| Georgetown University, when he began reading the | | | | Father Bowden would go on to be the main instigator |
| newspaper articles regarding the exorcism of Roland | | | | in the exorcism of Roland Doe. |
| Doe. He subsequently approached his lecturer, Rev. | | | | THE EXORCISMS OF ROLAND DOE |
| Thomas Bermingham informing him of the story. The | | | | Roland Doe's family were by now clear in mind that |
| Reverand then went on to conduct further | | | | evil had possessed their 13-year-old son after he had |
| investigations and discovered that the diaries of Roland | | | | conducted numerous Ouija board sessions. Their only |
| Doe had in fact been chronicled by the Jesuit Priests. | | | | choice left was to visit Father Albert Hughes at St. |
| It was unfortunate for Blatty, but he was unable obtain | | | | James Catholic Church in Mount Rainier for |
| permission to read the diaries, therefore, he had to turn | | | | assessment. |
| to lengthy newspaper investigations, which resulted in | | | | Father Hughes was initially disbelieving and hesitant |
| some amazing discoveries: | | | | about the case. However, he agreed to conduct the |
| In January 1949, a young boy called, Roland Doe and | | | | interview...encountering probably one of the worlds |
| his dysfunctional family began experiencing strange | | | | most inconceivable, unearthly cases of possession |
| occurrence's in their home. The location is still | | | | known to date. |
| undecided for many reasons. One of them being: | | | | THE INTERVIEW |
| Years later when Father Bowdern was asked by | | | | It was reported; as Father Hughes began interviewing |
| Blatty during the making of the film if he should visit the | | | | Roland, the icy breath felt by the Doe family during |
| Doe family, the Father became insistent that the | | | | their 'supposed' contact with Aunt Tillie had once more |
| family's location and confidentiality remain secret to | | | | made its hostile return. |
| protect the boy. However, I can reveal, it was either | | | | Still sceptical, Father Hughes carried on with the |
| Maryland, USA, or Mount Rainer, USA. | | | | interview, which was soon followed by Roland spilling |
| Wherever the true location may be, it is known that | | | | out a tirade of ungodly language directed at the Father. |
| the family's troubles began with minor disturbances, | | | | Hughes was evidently stunned but still remained |
| namely scratching sounds heard in various locations of | | | | unconvinced. However, this was swiftly dispelled when |
| their home (usually coming from the ceiling or the | | | | Roland suddenly began speaking fluently in Latin. A |
| walls). This led the family to suspect rodent infestation. | | | | language he had never been taught. |
| However, after contacting a rodent extermination firm, | | | | At the end of the interview, there was apparently no |
| who carried out a full investigation, it was determined | | | | doubt in Father Hughes mind that Roland Doe was |
| that the house was free of infestation. | | | | indeed possessed as he immediately contacted his |
| It was not long after this when the cause of these | | | | archbishop, Cardinal O'Boyle and asked his permission |
| disruptions began taking on a more dramatic and | | | | to conduct an exorcism. This was approved after the |
| sinister role. | | | | Cardinal studied the case and the medical evidence. |
| Roland Doe was to be the unfortunate victim of this | | | | THE EXORCISM |
| relentless phenomena. | | | | The first exorcism of Roland Doe took place at the |
| Whilst sleeping, he began experiencing violent bed | | | | Georgetown hospital. Before the ritual Roland was tied |
| shaking episodes and sheets being dragged off his | | | | securely to the bed, which was a normal practise. |
| bed. These onslaughts rapidly increased in intensity and | | | | As the exorcism commenced, Roland launched a |
| could often be heard and witnessed by the family. | | | | spitting frenzy directed at Father Hughes. It was |
| As Roland's family became convinced these attacks | | | | reported the outpouring was sent with such force and |
| were genuine, they also started to link Roland's | | | | incredible aim, it was described as 'beyond natural.' |
| fascination with the Ouija board. Roland began to | | | | The exorcism then came to its grisly end as the young |
| dabble with this 'game' thanks to his Aunt Tillie, who | | | | boy began screaming obscenities at the Father and |
| introduced him to it before she died on January 26th, | | | | broke free from his restraint. Roland then manifested a |
| 1949 - eleven days prior to the start of the paranormal | | | | power far beyond his years and condition - ripping a |
| activity. | | | | metal spring from the bed and slashing the Father's left |
| Although Roland's mother suspected Aunt Tillie was | | | | arm - resulting in Hughes needing over 100 stitches. |
| the cause of the haunting, the family had to act quickly | | | | Roland promptly became peaceful after Father |
| as concern grew for Roland's welfare. | | | | Hughes left the room - not referring to the exorcism at |
| As Roland had been baptized a Lutheran after birth, | | | | all; it was as though all memories had drained into a |
| the family called in the help of two Lutheran ministers - | | | | void of obscurity. |
| one being Rev. Luther Schultze. Accompanying them | | | | Roland was not considered to be in need of |
| was a Rabbi, who it is believed was only there | | | | hospitalisation after the exorcism and was sent home. |
| because of his knowledge in this type of suspected | | | | In the meantime, Father Hughes was unable to |
| phenomena. | | | | comprehend the reality of what he had just witnessed |
| Whilst the young boy was being assessed by the | | | | and suffered a mental breakdown. |
| Rabbi, it is said that Roland suddenly began ranting in a | | | | The case however remained far from closed; |
| language he had no previous knowledge of. | | | | something needed to be done to help Roland. After his |
| The two Lutheran ministers had no clue as to what | | | | cousin had spoken with her professor, Father Bishop |
| Roland was saying, however, the Rabbi understood | | | | at St Lois University (mentioned at the end of part |
| every word...Roland was speaking the rabbi's native | | | | two), it was decided that he and his good friend Father |
| tongue of Hebrew - fluently! | | | | Bowdern would visit Roland. |
| THE DOE'S CONTACT THE DEAD 'AUNT TILLIE' | | | | On March 9th 1949 Father Bishop and Father |
| After researching a number of conflicting articles on | | | | Bowdern, together with a young Jesuit priest, Fr. |
| the exorcism of Roland Doe and studying the Jesuit | | | | Walter Halloran went to Roland's home. During the visit, |
| priests diaries, I can now give you the facts | | | | they were horrified to discover Roland's body had |
| surrounding the lead up to and the actual exorcism | | | | been disfigured with bleeding scratches to his chest. |
| from the best of my knowledge. | | | | Other phenomenon was also witnessed, which |
| It was first understood by myself, after reading various | | | | resulted in Cardinal Ritter being petitioned by the priests |
| analogies, that Roland's mother held a number of Ouija | | | | in order to carry out another exorcism. |
| board séance's in order to contact Aunt Tillie, | | | | The exorcism was granted by Cardinal Ritter on |
| however, I discovered this was not the case: | | | | March 16th 1949...soon afterwards the priests began |
| Roland Doe's mother 'suspected' that recently | | | | the exorcism rites. |
| departed Aunt Tillie was the cause of Roland's regime | | | | The exorcism took on a sinister air from the start, with |
| of relentless torment. During one episode where | | | | violent bed movements reported, extreme hostile |
| Roland was being terrorised by this unknown force, his | | | | language and extensive spitting coming from Roland. |
| mother shouted out, 'if that's you Tillie, knock three | | | | When further bloody scratch marks apparently spelled |
| times'. | | | | out the words 'hell' and 'devil' it was decided for |
| Immediately, a cold breeze loomed down and weaved | | | | everyone's safety, the exorcism should be carried on |
| its icy breath around Roland's mother, grandmother, | | | | in the psychiatric ward at the Alexian Brothers Hospital. |
| and then Roland himself. Then came three distinct | | | | At the hospital, Father Bowdern began the exorcism |
| knocks on the floor, which all three of them heard. | | | | by reciting prayers from 'The Roman Ritual'. Whilst |
| Mrs Doe hesitantly asked, 'if that really is you Tillie, | | | | Father Bishop wrote a diary of the events. |
| knock four times'. Again, all three heard four knocks on | | | | Roland then screamed in apparent pain as the prayers |
| the floor...but most disturbingly - claw like marks were | | | | went on. At one point Bowdern was clearly shaken as |
| later discovered on Roland's mattress. | | | | the boy spat out the words, 'I'm in hell - I see you - |
| However, Aunt Tillie was later discarded as the cause | | | | you're in hell - it's 1957.' |
| after the paranormal activity carried over into Roland's | | | | Roland then began spitting at the priests again. Fr. |
| school. Roland was aghast as his school desk began | | | | Halloran was reported to have said that Roland was |
| moving around by itself in full view of the horrified | | | | an absolute marksman when he spat, he stated that |
| teacher and school children. This later resulted in | | | | even with his eyes closed Roland would spit right in |
| Roland's expulsion from the school. | | | | your face. |
| Understandably, the Doe family where traumatized as | | | | The exorcism went on for nights with each episode |
| well as fearing for Roland's health as the phenomena | | | | becoming more fearsome than the last. On one |
| increased. Reverend Shultze was brought in to | | | | occasion Roland exploded with such rage, he hit |
| observe the attacks on Roland. Over a period of | | | | Halloran with a force which broke his nose. |
| several nights, Shultze witnessed the boy seeming to | | | | Bowdern began reciting the Roman Ritual of Christian |
| be in agony as he slept - flaying his arms around and | | | | Exorcism over and over again: |
| ripping his sheets. The Reverend was still however | | | | 'I cast thee out, thou unclean spirit, along with the least |
| unconvinced of paranormal activity and referred | | | | encroachment of the wicked enemy and every |
| Roland to the Mental Hygiene Clinic of the University of | | | | phantom and diabolical legion. In the name of our Lord |
| Maryland for tests. The tests came back with | | | | Jesus Christ, depart and vanish from this creature of |
| conclusive results...Roland was considered in no way | | | | God.' |
| abnormal. | | | | After hours of reciting, Bowdern and the others were |
| Still sceptical of paranormal activity, Shultze asked | | | | alarmed when Roland sat bolt upright and announced |
| Roland to stay over at his parsonage. Shultze's main | | | | in a booming voice he was the 'Arc Angel Michael' and |
| purpose was to discover if Roland's home was being | | | | demanded the demon to leave Roland. |
| haunted, or whether it was Roland himself. | | | | Roland writhed around, contorting his body in obscure |
| On February 17th 1949, Roland was taken to Shultze's | | | | positions until eventually he lay still. Then he sat up and |
| home where he would spend the night and be | | | | spoke in his normal voice declaring to all the relieved |
| monitored by Shultze. The Reverend would not be | | | | witnesses, he had just seen a vision of St Michael |
| disappointed. | | | | holding a flaming sword. The exorcism was a success! |
| During the night, the Reverend stated that distinct | | | | Twelve days after the exorcism Roland's family |
| scratching noises were heard coming from Roland's | | | | moved from St Louis to Maryland. Roland later wrote |
| room. Shultze then entered the bedroom and was | | | | to Father Bowdern telling him he was settled and had |
| horrified to witness Roland being tipped out of the | | | | very vague recollections of what had happened to |
| armchair he was sitting in and the bed at his side | | | | him. |
| vibrating. | | | | The last report of Roland Doe is of a happily married |
| Shultze would later observe scratches appearing on | | | | man with three children and still living in Maryland. |