Exorcisms

I remember my parents talking around the coffee table with friends about the newly-released book The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty. We were not allowed to read the book or listen in on the conversation. We listened anyway.

Now, with the newly-released The Exorcism of Emily Rose, the questions going through the news media today are:
Are exorcisms necessary?
Are demons real?
Or is this a psychotic condition?

Roger Ebert's site offers this:
What is fascinating about "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" is that it asks a secular institution, the court, to decide a question that hinges on matters the court cannot have an opinion on. Either Emily was possessed by a demon and Father Moore did his best to save her, or she had a psychotic condition and he unwittingly did his best to kill her. The defense and the prosecution mount strong arguments and call persuasive witnesses, but in the end it all comes down to the personal beliefs of the jury. A juror who does not believe in demons must find the priest guilty, if perhaps sincere. A juror who does believe in demons must decide if Emily Rose was possessed, or misdiagnosed. In a case like this, during the jury selection, are you qualified or disqualified by believing one way or the other?

Here is a Christian review site which includes discussion questions.

Books I have read and can suggest regarding exorcisms are An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories both by Fr. Amorth Gabriele.

I'd love to read your comments on this subject.