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'''James J. LeBar''' (born 1936) is a [[Roman Catholic]] [[priest]] who was the chief [[exorcist]] of the Archdiocese of [[New York]] in the [[United States]].
'''James J. LeBar''' (May 19, 1936 - February 21, 2008) was a [[Roman Catholic]] [[priest]] who was the chief [[exorcist]] of the Archdiocese of [[New York]] in the [[United States]]in the 1990s.
Father LeBar was ordained in 1962. In 1973 LeBar was asked to become part of the Office of Communications of the Archdiocese of New York which at the time was dealing with the rise of cults and [[occult]] activity. He performed his first exorcisms in 1988 and 1989. He also published his book, entitled ''Cults, Sects, and the [[New Age]]'' in 1989. He has counseled many former cult members and is a frequent speaker on this subject.
Father LeBar was ordained in 1962. In 1973 he was asked to become part of the Office of Communications of the Archdiocese of New York which at the time was dealing with the rise of cults and [[occult]] activity. He performed his first exorcisms in 1988 and 1989. He also published his book, entitled ''Cults, Sects, and the [[New Age]]'' in 1989. He counseled many former cult members and was a frequent speaker on the subject.
He first came to prominence in 1991 when he took part in an exorcism in [[Palm Beach, Florida]], which was broadcast on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television program [[20/20]]. He was appointed the chief exorcist of New York in 1992, by the late [[John Cardinal O'Connor]]. On June 25, 1995 Father LeBar was one of the guests on the [[Geraldo Rivera]] television program exploring satanic ritual abuse.
He first came to prominence in 1991 when he took part in an exorcism in [[Palm Beach, Florida]], which was broadcast on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television program [[20/20]]. He was appointed the chief exorcist of New York in 1992, by the late [[John Cardinal O'Connor]]. On June 25, 1995 Father LeBar was one of the guests on the [[Geraldo Rivera]] television program exploring satanic ritual abuse.
Father LeBar has performed about forty exorcisms. On people he has exorcised he has personally witnessed people who spoke in foreign tongues, the hatred and [[evil]] of the [[devil]], and super strength.
Father LeBar performed about forty exorcisms. On the people he exorcised he personally witnessed people speaking in foreign tongues, the hatred and [[evil]] of the [[devil]], and super strength.
When asked during an interview if he ever witnessed [[levitation]] during an exorcism he said, "I myself, have never seen a major levitation in the course of an exorcism. However, in one case in the preliminary investigation, I had a person who rose up above the pews of the church and was suspended there for a few minutes."
When asked during an interview if he ever witnessed [[levitation]] during an exorcism he said, "I myself, have never seen a major levitation in the course of an exorcism. However, in one case in the preliminary investigation, I had a person who rose up above the pews of the church and was suspended there for a few minutes."
In July 2002 Father LeBar addressed a conference of Roman Catholic exorcists in [[Rome]]. He lives and works in New York State and is presently assigned as Chaplain of the Hudson River Psychiatric Center in [[Poughkeepsie, New York|Poughkeepsie]], a post he has held for almost twenty years.
In July 2002 Father LeBar addressed a conference of Roman Catholic exorcists in [[Rome]]. He lives and works in New York State and is presently assigned as Chaplain of the Hudson River Psychiatric Center in [[Poughkeepsie, New York|Poughkeepsie]], a post he has held for almost twenty years.
== Death ==
Father LeBar died of heart failure on the morning of February 21st, 2008 at St. Francis Hospital in Poughskeepie, NY. He was admitted and diagnosed as having a bacterial infection which became septic. He was placed on a ventilator in intensive care and and died of heart failure.
Father LeBar was buried from Regina Coeli Parish in Hyde Park, New York. His body lay in-state at the church, where visitation were held on Sunday, February 24th 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...”"