Church leaders angrily condemned Channel 4 last night over plans to broadcast a live exorcism.
TV morality campaigners also slammed the idea, branding it harmful and dangerous.
The programme, called Exorcism, will be shown next month.
An insider said: 'The aim is to test the science involved.
'It would involve officials from the church and leading scientists and we would monitor precisely what happens during the process.'
Taste Sky TV are planning a separate show called When Exorcisms Go Wrong, featuring amateur videos of rites from around the world.
Broadcasting watchdogs Ofcom say demonstrations of exorcisms and other 'occult practices' should not be shown on factual TV 'except in the context of a legitimate investigation'.
But a source said: 'The producers will insist they should be allowed to broadcast the exorcism on the grounds that it's a form of scientific experimentation and a legitimate part of church practice.
'Whether the broadcasting authorities see it like that is another matter.'
A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland branded the show 'a ratings-grabbing attempt to push the boundaries of taste'.
He said: 'Each exorcism deals with very complex psychological, spiritual and emotional issues which cannot be easily monitored or measured.
'To try to analyse some kind of scientific results would be a non-starter.'
Groups like Mediawatch, founded by the late Mary Whitehouse, claim shows about the paranormal can harm vulnerable viewers.
They blame the BBC's Ghostwatch, a spoof Halloween show 13 years ago, for driving a young viewer to suicide.
John Beyer, Mediawatch director, said of the Channel 4 exorcism: 'This sounds very dangerous and ºis likely to cause considerable unease. Getting ratings is all the broad- casters are bothered about.This is not only ill-advised, it could be harmful.
'If Ghostwatch is anything to go by, vulnerable people do take notice. Surely someone killing themselves as a consequence of a TV programme should be enough to set a precedent.'
A spokesman for Channel 4 confirmed the exorcism programme was planned for later in the year.
And a Sky One spokesman claimed their show would be 'a thought-provoking exploration of a controversial subject'.