Hello,

I know a person who has psycological problems. I have known him since grade school and for the last 20 years, I've only seen him occassionally.

Around 26 years ago, the problems first began to occur. He ended up having some type of psychological attack and was hospitalized. I heard that he had been saying he was hearing voices and that the voice was that of God the Father. When he got out of the hospital, while I was still single, he would talk to me a little about what was happening to him. He said that God the Father was talking to him. Before this, he didn't think that abortion was wrong. After it, he said it was definitely wrong. He seemed to change his attitude about this and other things along the lines of church teaching. He also expressed that God has a sense of humor as well, for example, by somehow communicating or showing him terrible golf shots he had made in the past and adding jest and playful comments.

Over the years, he has had subsequest multiple episodes, even suicide attempts, and would later get out of the hospital. This ruined his life, he rarely held a job over this time to this day, with frequent weight loss gains and losses. With a lot of medication. And sometimes him mixing in alcohol and he smokes. His family monitors the alcohol and medication very closely and he lives with family members.

Very recently, when myself and other friends from our early years gathered, he didn't look very well and his hands were shaking very much.

When making conversation, we ended up talikng about church. He said that to be honest, he doesn't go to Church right now because he has such a close relationship with God the Father that there is no need to. He said the voice that he hears is from God the Father, whom he describes as being in charge, and on rare occassions he hears from Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

I didn't know what to say in response other than explaining why I go to Church. Because of the Holy Eucharist and that it is a continuation of Calvary. Other than that, given the history, I felt I should not discuss it further since I don't understand everything happening here.

For the first time after this, however, I began to consider the possibility that maybe a demon may be involved. That being, why would God tell any person that there is no need to go to Church when it is His commandment? Or, where would he get this idea?

I don't understand all of this so I wanted to get your thoughts. I apologize that this is very little information. Am just wanting to get your thoughts based on your experience/knowledge in this situations and see if maybe there are prayers I can pray that might help him. I prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy last night for him asking that God show him the truth. And, that if it be in his will, heal him.

I should mention that there is a recent history of mental disorders in his family, in addition to him. I'm not certain exactly how he has been diagnosed.

Thank you.