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howdy, the diary of the exorcism of “Robbie,” “Rob Doe,” “R,” (Ronald Hunkeler) is located here. However, I personally have my doubts about the authenticity because of the grammatical mistakes throughout; i.e., forgetting to replace “Ronald” with the letter “R” in every instance (Frs. Bishop and/or Bowdern probably would not have goofed on this important detail).
This version by Thomas B. Allen supposedly includes an actual carbon copy of the “original 26-page, single-spaced typescript and three carbon copies.” I, for one, cannot find the copyrighted material online. Perhaps someone would like to share or Google it. 😉
I think it’s real. I think the errors were probably put there by whoever transcribed the original to a digital copy or perhaps they were actually there.
As I understand it the diary was informal notes just to document the case.
etrigan (I’m still loving your avatar, BTW), I think there are so many stories that have been told, including the one about the diary being burned, that no one really knows anything for sure at this stage regarding authenticity.
If Halloran “provided” Allen with an authentic copy of one of the three real carbon copies (article here) of Bishop’s diary, and then Bowdern approved it, I’m lost on its release to Allen in 2000. What happened? It’s like a clash of religion over $$$ —> Halloran/Bowdern would have a “who cares now” attitude regarding Bishop (not to mention the archbishop’s request for secrecy), while Allen would be cashing in on the diary by releasing an updated version of his book, “Possessed,” in 2000 … a few years after the lousy movie with the same title came out.
etrigan, I still hate your avatar. Fatha, everyone makes mistakes, especially during periods of high stress.
If anything, Bowdern or Halloran should have caught the name “Ronald” being divulged by Bishop after he typed his notes onto carbon-copy paper. Bishop would have done the typing in his room at the rectory or wherever … away from the chaos. It’s just too important to not correct that somewhere along the historical line after all these years.
A typed document can be forged easily utilizing carbon-copy paper from the 1949 era along with a typewriter during that same period. I’d like to see the actual handwritten notes taken by anyone on board … handwriting is more forensic for examination than a typewritten carbon copy.
You do make good points Fatha. Wouldn’t be surprised if it were forged. The whole thing is such a weird episode who knows either way.
Another intriguing article (here) is a good reading. I especially like these paragraphs:
1. “R’s parents were becoming frantic. They had watched their son become unruly, even threatening to run away, and he seemed to be “on the verge of violence” (Allen 2000, 57). They sought help from a physician, who merely found the boy “somewhat high-strung,” then from a psychologist, whose opinions went unrecorded. A psychiatrist found R to be “normal,” but “declared that he did not believe the phenomena.” A Spiritualist and two Lutheran ministers were consulted (Bishop 1949, 248). One of the latter eventually advised the parents, “You have to see a Catholic priest. The Catholics know about things like this” (Allen 2000, 24).”
These series of events truly denied a disturbed teenager of psychiatric help and perhaps medications that could have solved his mental problems. However, it was 1949, and the use of psychiatric drugs (not the best at the time obviously) were probably more taboo than seeking more “professional” help from the Catholic church. The white-picket fence family in suburbia would perhaps be shamed by a mental illness in the family. However, an exorcism is shrouded tightly in secrecy.
Sideline: In The Exorcist (novel), Blatty does a bang up job of letting us know the medications are not helping Regan. The jolt that Blatty delivers is that Regan is heavily sedated just prior to the crucifix masturbation. Blatty lets the reader know more about Regan’s medical therapy and lets the reader deduce the obvious. As for the film, editing was of the essence (both pre- and working script), and we didn’t get enough lead up (IMHO) regarding Regan’s medical treatments.
2. “Was R possessed? Or did superstition mask a troubled youth’s problems and invite elaborate role-playing? Interestingly, Archbishop Ritter appointed a Jesuit philosophy professor to investigate the matter. According to a reportedly informed source, the investigator concluded that R “was not the victim of diabolical possession” (Allen 2000, 234). Without wishing to make a categorical judgment, Halloran states that R did not exhibit prodigious strength, showing nothing more than what could be summoned by an agitated teenager. As to speaking in Latin, Halloran thought that was nothing more than the boy’s having heard repetitious Latin phrases from the exorcising priest. (Or one occasion “the devil reportedly spoke school kids’ ‘pig Latin'”!)”
This is an interesting contrast on the level that Halloran did not believe R was truly possessed, yet he passes on the “diary” to Allen. Allen then follows up in his 2000 edition of Possessed with, “R was not the victim of diabolical possession” (Allen 2000, 234). WHAT? By updating his own original work, Allen is now complicating things more by including the confirming “diary’ while denouncing the possession. WHY? $$$ … maybe a, “How can I make Possessed more like The Exorcist?” Money is the root of all evil and the pun is intended. 🙂
Just my humble thoughts. “It’s all very remote.”
Fada,
Halloran has been all over the place on his opinion. In the “Haunted Boy” story he has said it was no big deal. In
In documentaries on the case he said he was levitating and supernaturally strong. Go figure….etrigan (still love that avatar!),
You are absolutely right from the research I’ve done, too. I don’t understand how Halloran can get so mixed up on his “stories.” It doesn’t provide very much authenticity to the case when a member of the crew can’t keep his stories on track. Talk about derailing!
I’ve been forgetting to ask this question. With the internet, I would be shocked if they never somehow leaked onto the web.
These are the diaries written by the priest who was involved with the exorcist of “Robbie”.
Over the years what was convincing and shocking in the 40s and 50s became less convincing in the 70s and far less so at the end of the century. Consequently I suspect having realised they had been duped and wanting desperately to save face over what became so public an incident, those involved needed to exaggerate events somewhat. After a while lies however small lead to confusion and different versions of events.
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