A number of personality disorders, especially Schizophrnia and Borderline personality Disorder have a long list of people who have harmed themselves in devastating ways. Not only this, but the article states that the voices had told him to do it? Auditory hallucinations.
When someone is in the depths of a psychotic or schizophrenic episode, it is almost as if they are removed from themselves, viewing their actions and body from inside their own head. Physical pain is dulled making it possible for humans to do the unthinkable to their bodies. So it stands to reason that gouging his eyes out is totally possible.
One book I read was of a woman who recounted her story about the developments, pique and finally management of her Schizophrenia. At one point she describes digging into her foot with glass until she reached the bone. Afterwards, running out into the snow with said foot still bleeding and gouged out. (The book was called 'Welcome Silence' by Carol North)
There have been other recordings of people with personality disorders on the extreme end of the spectrum, who have ripped parts of their skin off, lopped off fingers and other such self inflicted acts of harm.
I am not ruling out an evil prscence however there a lot we dont know about the dude. You would have to ask the man if he was ever emotionally triggered by Mass, or attending church. Perhaps it was one or a series of precipitating events that occured, and the mass ceremony was the catylist for this unfortunate event.
