Daughter: Pelosi had exorcism performed on her home

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), a devout Catholic, had priests attempt an exorcism of her San Francisco home after the hammer attack there on husband Paul Pelosi, her daughter said.

Paul Pelosi’s skull was fractured in the October home invasion and he continues to recover. David DePape, awaiting trial on attempted murder charges, reportedly told police he intended to kidnap and harm the lawmaker because she was second in line to the presidency. But she was in Washington at the time.

“I think that weighed really heavy on her soul,” Alexandra Pelosi told The New York Times’ Maureen Dowd in a column published Saturday. “I think she felt really guilty. I think that really broke her. Over Thanksgiving, she had priests coming, trying to have an exorcism of the house and having prayer services.”

The exact nature of the exorcism, a religious rite intended to expel evil, was not revealed. Or even whether an actual exorcism took place. Pelosi’s Washington office didn’t reply immediately to HuffPost’s request for comment early Tuesday.

[This sounds a bit strange, although certainly possible. Pelosi may have just had the house blessed rather than “exorcised,” which is a much more common request. In any event, this wouldn’t be a “major exorcism,” as CNA explains at this link, but what’s known as a “minor exorcism” with the same import as in the rite of baptism — which does involve the casting out of demons … just in case. — Ed]