. >> reporter: father gary thomas is an exorcist, though he did not perform becky parker's exorcism. that priest preferred to remain anonymous. he was trained in rome, and he's been the official exorcist of the diocese of san jose, california. father, is the devil real? >> i do believe the del is real. i've had occurrences and experiences in my life where i believe i've seen the devil. i've seen demons. but you don't see satan in the same way that you and i are looking at each other. >> reporter: there's plenty of evil in the world. god know that, you might say. plenty of cruelty, mayhem and murder. but the devil? >> satan is a pure spirit. he's an angel who fell. certainly, when i've been involved in the ministry of exorcism, and at times, prayed with people who have had a demonic attachment, i have seen satan. >> i have never met a psychiatrist that came to the conclusion that the person was possessed by a demon. >> reporter: daryl ray speaks for the other side, the secular take on these matters, as a psychologist and atheist who thinks exorcism is not just a fantasy, but a dangero

saratoga priest gary thomas who inspired the film said exorcisms are not only real, but needed. >> theoint of the movie is, that this is a reality. and at times, the form of solemn, authoritative right of the church we call exorcism is needed. >> father thomas says he's already seen "the rite" three times. >>> a florida mother is using a special type of pageant to bring awareness to a rare illness affecting her children. just call her the beauty queen with no age limits. adam cupperstein explains. >> reporter: did you know there's a ms. america pageant? it's just like miss america except for women over the age of 26. >> i never, ever competed in a pageant ever. >> reporter: kelly is a 40-year-old stay-at-home mom from parkland and this weekend in california she'll be one of 28 ms. america finalists. >> 40 is the new 20. >> reporter: she entered her first pageant last november and she won, earning the crown for mrs. broward county. >> i want to see my mom as a beauty queen. >> reporter: her two teenage daughters might not see her as ms. america, but they understand that she's doing it f

"the right" with sir anthony hopkins is based on the story of father gary thomas, a catholic priest in saratoga. he traveled to rome to learn how to practice exorcism and thomas says is he happy with the film and that the exorcisms depicted are accurate. >>> the stars out in hollywood for the screen actors guildard awards "the king's speech" won for best movie. natalie portman won best actress for "the swan." and "modern family" won for best comedy series. >>> the four of the san francisco giants 2010 world series trophy continues with a stop in the east bay. the trophia has been traveling the country, making stops as far away as new york city. it's back in the bay area tomorrow with a public showing. the trophy will be on display starting at noon at the lesher center for the arts in walnut creek. >>> listen to this, a homeless couple in green bay, wisconsin has won the chance to go to the super bowl. the dallas convention and visitors bureau held a contest asking people to log opponent their facebook page to find a secret phase. the goal was to find a mystery man, sent bit convention

. >> yeah, father gary thomas. rom california and it's his story. >> jimmy: father gary is an exorcist? this is the story of his life? >> i'm always in doubt about everything, which makes it open but it's an interesting story, because it is about -- does the devil exist or does it not. is it a mental disorder or a possession? father gary asked me, what do you think? i said, i don't know, i have doubts about everything. but it's an interesting. the young actor who is in it with me is colin o'donnell, great young actor, he's -- >> jimmy: was he intimidated working with you? >> oh, yeah. >> jimmy: i would think. >> young irish guy and his first movie and he said, i'm a bit nervous. i said, oh, really, you should be. so i said, a few days went on, he said, how do you think that scene was? i said, is that the way you're going to play the part? i said, it's your career, it's up to you. then he knows it's a joke. then he insults me back. >> jimmy: right. >> he's a good kick. all the girls will love him. he's a great kid. >

fat gary thomas has been the official exorcist of the diocese of san jose the past several years. he was trained at the vatican and movie the rite is loosely based on his experiences. as continual as exorcism is father gary told abc news he says it works and the devil is real. >> when i have been in the involved of ministry of exorcism and prayed with people who have had demon attachment i have seep satan. >> "nightline"more with father gary tonight right after this news cast. >>> 2 words express how people back east are feeling tonight. enough already. forecast calls for a miserable foot of snow overnight but it was actually much worse. new york city got 19 inches. philadelphia 17. north of would ton the steel beam of this warehouse roof were snapped under the weight of 3 and half feet of snow. 2 men were trapped for hours. they are okay tonight. >> wow! we have had just glorious weather here but some changes are coming our way as well. spencer is here with that. >> that video makes me feel bet about telling you that showers are coming our way. okay? right now it is dry outside.

reverend gary thomas spent a week in hungary during the filming of the film "the right." pastor consulted on the movie's exorcism scenes. since 2005 reverend thomas met over 100 people who fear they were possessed by the devil. the vast majority of the cases were psychological in nature but he performed four exorcisms. the rite is based on a book about his enrollment in the exorcism course. the movie opens in theaters this friday. >> looks scary. santa cruz surf top might soon be honored by the state. the city council asked the sight make the original o'neal shop historical interest. jack akneel opened his first shop in 1952 in a garage across from the great highway in san francisco. but he relocated to santa cruz in 1959 where he helped develop the surf culture we know is there today. >> a chicago man fired for wearing a packers tie has job offers. the father of two was fired at a car dealership on monday when he showed up at work supporting his favorite team. now other dealerships are offering jobs to that father too. he's been offered his old job wack. >> any one who th

the father gary thomas. >> charlie: he was on the set meaning he was there during the making of the film. >> giving some advice. >> charlie: to authenticity. >> yes. this young priest, he loses his faith in the story. one of his seniors says well go to rome because i think you ought to meet somebody. and i think you ought to really think because he wants to leave and give it up. and things happen and he goes to rome and he meets me many and this man plays father rukas based on another guy that's still in rome, outside of rome in france i believe. he himself had been performing many many -- the story is this young priest played by this young new actor from ireland, wonderful young actor. he arrives and he's full of doubts when he meets me because he doesn't believe in exorcism or doesn't believe that the devil is an anthropo morphic entity. i said well if that's what you believe. the and he becomes possessed. that's all true. >>> wow. so let's take a look. this is father lukas revealing to michael that there are times when i doubts his faith. here it is. >> the interesting thing about ske

gary thomas, who inspired the film, says exorcisms are not only real but necessary. >> the point of the movie is that this is a reality and at times the formal solemn authoritative rite of the church we call exorcism is needed. >> father thomas says he's already seen the movie three times. that means i don't have to see it because he saw it for me. >> you did that whole thing without looking at the video. >> and i can't stand october because all the horror movie previews come out. >> come out early just for you. >>> next on "today in the bay," we've heard of the twinkie defense but what about the energy drink defense? could a drink sold over the counter at a gas station be to blame for a pro basketball player's suspension? >>> a very good morning to you. i'm lawrence scott. coming up in sports, an aerial show at stanford. what a scene at maples. dunks aplenty. plus logan kocur, he has skills and showed them at the all-star skils competition, the sharks' rookie putting on quite a show as well. [ mom ] can a little bowl of cereal change your life? i think it can. one of the challenges for

father gary thomas. he's an exorcist. and we had long talks, you know, during the scenes. said, without a doubt. he said, what do you believe? i said, i'm not sure. but the young actor with me, colin o'donoghue, a wonderful, young actor. he plays the other priest. he actually sat in an on exorcism. >> he sat through one? >> he did. >> what kind of effect did it have on him? >> it was very strange. and there was extraordinary. there was a nunn being exorcised. >> in this one, you are -- >> i play a priest. >> you play a priest. and you end up being possessed by the devil yourself. i want to show a little bit of when that's starting to happen. >> okay. >> shall we begin? i told you, he's not here. >> who are you? >> just an old friend. >> friend? >> yeah. >> i'm not sure i follow you. >> oh, you'll follow me, michael. you've always followed me. you are following me now. >> oh, no. >> we don't want to be distant, do we? >> you do evil and eerie so well. where does that come from? >> i don't know. i'm not like that. i play a priest, who is a good man, and suddenly becomes poss

gary hazelhoffer. >> second. >> the time is 7:18. [at 7:18 p.m. the meeting is adjourned] >> please turn off your cell phones and pagers. commission president thomas mazzucco? president mazzucco: present. >> commissioner dejesus? >> en route. >> commissioner carol kingsley? >> present. >> commission president, you have a quorum. president mazzucco: thank you. welcome to the december 12, -- the december 1, 2010 session. we have a light calendar, but we will have several hearings in closed session. we always move to be transparent, but these officers have rights and these matters are not for public consumption. with that in mind, please call line item number one, public comment. >> item 1, public comment. members of the public may address the police commission for a time determined by the chair, not to exceed three minutes, on items that are within the subject matter of jurisdiction of the commission but do not appear on the agenda. president mazzucco: i would like to note that with the commission tonight is the assistant chief and director from the office of civil complaints. any public comment on matters that pertain to the san francisco police de