Statement on the Dangers of Exploring Forms of Divination and Occult Practices

By Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt, Diocese of Grand Island

    Fall is a beautiful time of the year and fall decorations highlight the natural beauty of this change of seasons. However, as the date of Halloween approaches, a greater fascination with ghosts, zombies, death, dark spirits and with evil is also on display. Sometimes events and activities are planned, perhaps simply as seasonal fun, that also open the door for evil spirits to enter into a person, often without their knowing it.  

   The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in dealing with the First Commandment, states in section #2116, “All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history and in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers.  They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.” In other words, the use of Ouija boards, Tarot cards and other items thought to possess magical powers elicit a type of ‘faith’ which is contrary to the Christian faith in God alone. 

   Furthermore, section #2117 of the Catechism teaches that, “All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others – even if this were for the sake of restoring their health – are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion.  These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it.  Recourse to so called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another’s credulity.” 

   The hidden, unanticipated result of participating in these practices is that a person opens themselves up to the activity of evil spirits and, unwittingly, to the deceptive attraction of other demonic and satanic activity. In this way, a person compromises their own spiritual health and well-being because of some initial voluntary participation in things through which evil spirits gain entry into their lives.  

     Many people suffer lasting effects from a curious exploration by which they dabbled in divination, magic, sorcery or other occult practices. They need deliverance and healing from these spiritual maladies. Anyone who has participated in these types of activities should renounce such practices and confess this offense against the one true God in the sacrament of reconciliation. Furthermore, they should seek deliverance and healing for these spiritual maladies from priests who are to offer prayers of deliverance over them. 

     Let us avoid all that offends God and strive to fulfill all that brings him honor. Do not open your life to the activity of evil spirits. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.