Fr. James J LeBar 1936-2008 Chairman of the Pastoral Visitation Team to the Servants of Christ the King, appointed by the Most Reverend AlbertOttenweller, 2 nd Bishop of Steubenville in January, 1991 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chief Exorcist of the Archdiocese of New York under theauspices of John Cardinal O’Connor~~~~~~~~~~~ Assessor of the Sword of the Spirit
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Assessor of the Sword of the Spirit: Fr James LeBar 1936-2008
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8/6/2019 Assessor of the Sword of the Spirit: Fr James LeBar 1936-2008
The Rev. James J. LeBar, 71, a longtime Hyde Park resident, died on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at St.
Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie. A Catholic Priest with the Archdiocese of New York, Fr. LeBar wasa graduate of St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie. He was ordained on June 2, 1962, and served
throughout the Archdiocese of New York. He was also a priest in residence at Regina Coeli Church,
Hyde Park, and a Chaplain at the Hudson River Psychiatric Center for over 25 years, until his
retirement. He was very involved with the Blue Army.
Fr. LeBar worked with Fr. Flanagan’s Boys Town and directed many retreats and Adult and Youth
Seminars there.
A former Eagle Scout himself, he was affiliated for many years with The Boy Scouts of America.
He was an authority and prolific writer on the subject of the occult and demonology for the Archdiocese
of New York. Appointed by Cardinal O’Connor as Chief Exorcist for the Archdiocese, he appeared on
many television talk shows including Geraldo, EWTN, ABC’s 20/20, and the CBS Early Show.
Fr. LeBar gave testimony on pseudo-religious groups to the Congress of the United States in 1979.Before the Joint Congressional Proceeding under Senator Robert Dole, Fr. LeBar made the following
comments:
Senator Dole. The next witness is Father James LaBar, Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of New York.
I don't want to take away time from the witnesses, but we are under some time constraints because of
other commitments. If anybody -- we have -- we are down to the last two witnesses. Some of the panel
would like to submit questions.
If we can speed it up, it would be helpful.
STATEMENT OF FATHER JAMES LA BAR.
Mr. LaBar. Members of the Senate and the House, it is indeed a privilege to be here today. I hope that
the points raised today by all the speakers will be considered very carefully.
Speaking of the religious cults, it is important to make some basic definitions. I certainly feel that the
term "cult" can be applied to various offshoots of established churches as well.
I would have to disagree considerably that the term pseudo-religious cult is inappropriate, because the
very idea of the First Amendment and religion, we have to first determine was religion is.
So I use the term pseudo-religious cults to describe those groups that purport to call themselves a
religious movement, but in fact are only using religion as a shield for their true purpose.
Four basic characteristics I see in them:
1. A close allegiance to a person rather than to God.
2. An inordinate preoccupation with the attainment of money, which is not used for the poor or
charity, but for the enrichment of the leader.
3. Deceptive practices in recruitment.
4. And deprivation of freedom within the group, and in particular the lack of freedom when it
comes time or a desire to leave the group because of what has been taught.
I am sure that all of you know that the Roman Catholic Church has a high regard for religious liberty.
Together with the World Council of Churches, there is common agreement with the United Nations
8/6/2019 Assessor of the Sword of the Spirit: Fr James LeBar 1936-2008
investigation, I had a person who rose up above the pews of the church and was suspended there for a
few minutes."
He told the periodical ―Spirit Daily‖ at the time of the 25th anniversary release of the film, ―The
Exorcist‖ that it, "is about the most accurate portrayal of what can happen at an exorcism that I have
ever seen."
Actress Winona Ryder spoke with Father LeBar about exorcisms in 1999 in order to prepare for her film
role in the movie ―Lost Souls‖ in which LeBar was one of the consultants. He even allowed her to view
some videotapes of exorcisms he had performed.
In July 2002 Father LeBar addressed a conference of Roman Catholic exorcists in Rome.
Father LeBar was buried from Regina Coeli Parish in Hyde Park, New York (roughly two hours north of
Manhattan) where he was in residence for nearly the last 25 years. His body lay in-state at the church,
where visitation were held on Sunday, February 24 in the afternoon and evening; the Mass of Christian
Burial was concelebrated with one of the auxiliary bishops of New York on Monday, February 25, at
10:00.
According to a colleague of Father LeBar:
"For those of us who knew and worked with him, were served or mentored by him, we are trying
with God’s grace to come to terms with this loss, both personally and for the Church in America.
I have often remarked about Father’s disarmingly dry sense of humor— a hallmark of the same
man who at times directly addressed and expelled demonic forces. A friend asked yesterday, ―I
wonder what Fr. LeBar will say when he sees God the Father?‖ I have no doubt that his sincere
but usually witty response, along with his slight Bronx accent, will be something like, ―Well— you do look better in person...‖"
Thank you, Lord, for the life and work of James Joseph LeBar. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, andlet perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the
mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Left to Right in November, 1991: Doris Quelet, Most Reverend Albert Ottenweller, John Flaherty and Fr. James LeBar.