Exorcism, Deliverance and Canon Law

Exorcism - the act of driving out, or warding off, demons (evil spirits), from persons, places, or things, which are believed to be possessed or infested by them, or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice. Certain means are employed for this purpose, especially the solemn and authoritative adjuration of the demon in the Rite of Exorcism. 

As an act of Christ, and by his authority, it's solemn use is reserved to those who can stand in His authority, the apostles and their successors the bishops, and those to whom a bishop in a particular Church (diocese) grants the faculty to wield that authority in a specific case. For this reason, the norms of Canon Law and of the Rite of Exorcism must always be strictly observed. To do otherwise is to court serious spiritual danger. 

Deliverance - an act of petition, rather than authority, asking God for the liberation of someone from some evil. The evil may be sickness, spiritual oppression, or other difficulties which do not reach the level suggesting the need for exorcism, but only prayer. It can also be used to assist in the judgment of the need for exorcism. It should always, however, do so subject to the authority of the bishop and the norms of the Church, and thus restricted to intercessory prayer.

Summary of the Norms on Exorcism, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Letter to Ordinaries regarding norms on Exorcism (1985)

The Congregation in its letter to Bishops was responding to an increase in the number of lay-led prayer groups engaging in seeking deliverance from evil spirits, sometimes with a priest present, but distinct from solemn exorcism. The letter was its response to Bishops regarding the matter. 

Some keys conclusions of the Congregation

A. Prohibits Imprecatory Prayer - Prayers which Command (except Priests with the Faculty)

The Holy See forbids priests lacking an explicit episcopal faculty from conducting solemn exorcisms. 

It is not licit for the faithful to use the formula of exorcism against Satan and the fallen angels taken from the exorcism prayers of Pope Lei XIII, and, much less so to use the whole formula. This applies even to a priest who is present at deliverance ministry prayers, unless he has an explicit episcopal mandate to do so.

B. Allows Deprecatory Prayer - Prayers which Supplicate God, the Angels or Saints (all may use)

Prayers asking for deliverance addressed to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Our Lady, the saints or the angels, are fully permissible.

C. Encourages the use of the means which the Tradition has always taught. 

. . .the role proper to the sacraments and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the Angels and Saints in the Christian’s spiritual battle.

D. The Congregation obliges strict adherence to the norms of Canon Law canon 1172.

Can. 1172 §1. No one can perform exorcisms legitimately upon the possessed unless he has obtained special and express permission from the local ordinary.

§2. The local ordinary is to give this permission only to a presbyter who has piety, knowledge, prudence, and integrity of life.

A similar norm can be found in the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches, CCEO 988.

The Application of the Norms to Solemn Exorcism versus Deliverance Ministry: