Evangelical pastor Bob Larson has gone on record saying he offers tax-deductible exorcisms over Skype, charging $295 per hour of every session. While speaking to the media on January 28, he said he has carried out more than 20,000 exorcisms over two decades and since technology has come very far over the years, he can now offer the same service to people from across the world. According to the Reverend from Arizona, American residents can also deduct the donation to Larson’s International Missions Program from their taxes.
Owing to Skype’s cheap rates, Larson has managed to connect with innumerable people who are allegedly possessed, from different parts of the world. He insists that people are getting their money’s worth and explained, “In simple terms, an exorcism is the process of expelling an evil spirit from an individual who has become somehow invaded and demonized by that being, and sending it back to hell and freeing the person.”
However, Isaac Kramer, director, International Catholic Association of Exorcists, has said that online exorcisms are only a scam.
“If a person is fully possessed, the demon inside of them will not let them sit in front of the computer screen to be exorcised. Chances are, they’re going to throw the computer screen across the room and destroy everything,” said Kramer.
Skeptics doubt the authenticity of Larson’s exorcisms and have called his numerous YouTube uploads “nothing but a show.” Larson on the other hand, has denied allegations of being a fraud saying, “There would be no reason to theatrically stage this for any reason. Why would anybody do that? I have no idea.”
