The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper: Season 3, Episode 23

3 - 23: The Exorcists

Senior National Correspondent David Culver captures a revealing exploration of modern exorcisms in America.In "The Exorcists," Culver travels to Arizona, where he sits down with one Catholic exorcist who has never spoken out publicly about the rite before. He witnesses deliverances across Christian faiths, capturing rituals taking place in garage sanctuaries overflowing with worshippers, family churches hosting deliverance nights, and pastors offering one-on-one sessions, sometimes for a fee. Speaking with Catholic leaders, including Bishops John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix and Gerald Frederick Kicanas of the Diocese of Tucson, Culver examines the ongoing debate over how mental health treatment and spiritual healing can coexist."After months of reporting, this felt less like a story about demons and more like a story about the human desire to feel seen, supported, and healed," said Culver. "Every minister and exorcist we spoke with told us the same thing: more people are showing up, asking for help. The rise is anecdotal, but the desperation we saw was unmistakable."The episode features rare footage of deliverance rituals, interviews with those who have undergone the rites, and an unflinching look at the line between psychological distress and the belief of spiritual possession. Through these accounts, "The Exorcists" probes how centuries-old rituals of religious cleansing are being reinterpreted in modern America, often as a last resort for people seeking relief from trauma and abuse.