Handbasket

I was surprised to see the Vatican offering new courses on demonic posession, since it’s a topic that’s more traditionally associated with the days when the line between spiritual ecstasies and demonic horror was unblurred by talk of schizophrenia, brain tumors, or whether women should be allowed to read.

Then again, when your art supply store will sell you squirrel feet by the half-dozen you may feel that there’s plenty of room for a little concern about the arcane inquiries of your young.