Romanian Ex-Priest Sentenced to Seven Years for Gruesome Exorcism

This is easily one of the most nutso stories out today.

Daniel Corogeanu, a former priest in Romania, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the 2005 murder of Maricica Irina Cornici, a nun marked as having the Devil inside her.

If that wasn’t odd enough, the way she died is: Corogeanu and four nuns subjected Cornici to a full-blown exorcism, bounding her to a cross and leaving her without food and water for four days. Strangle marks were also found around her neck.

I would usually state that strangle marks indicate foul play, but I think the crucifixion of a young, helpless woman may be considered foul play altogether.

Cornici was schizophrenic according to parishioners at the Romanian Orthodox church, though no official documents claim her as such.

In the words of Corogeanu, from USA Today:

“Over there, in your world, the people must know that the devil exists. Personally I can find his work in the gestures and speech of possessed people, because man is often weak and lets himself be easily manipulated by the forces of evil. I don’t understand why journalists are making such a fuss about this. Exorcism is a common practice in the heart of the Romanian Orthodox church and my methods are not at all unknown to other priests.”

What a sinister son of a bitch. He looks like the spawn of Charles Manson and Gary Higgins.