Catholic bishops from across the U.S. come together Thursday to consecrate the country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

They performed the rite in well-attended outdoor ceremonies to drive out any evil spirits lingering after acrimonious protests. In Portland, Oregon, Archbishop Alexander Sample led a procession of more than 200 people to a city park, then conducted an exorcism rite. (Ed Langlois/Catholic Sentinel via AP)In popular culture, exorcism often serves as a plot device in chilling films about demonic possession. Chesnut noted that in Mexico, some high-ranking Catholic clergy performed an exorcism in 2015 seeking to expel demons nationwide. The Catholic church is not ceding the practice of exorcism to these other faiths.