"Catholic guilt"?

[SpeakKindly]

Something that always seems to pop up in media every now and then is the term “Catholic guilt”. Why do people assume that Catholics are known for guilt? I think I’ve even talked with former Catholics who have said they felt guilty during their practicing days.

Personally, I feel guilty when I do wrong things…If my head is on straight, of course. Doing wrong should feel wrong.

I don’t get the stereotype though, I feel like there’s more people trying to love each other than beat each other over the head with rules.

 

[CatholicWhovian]

Anyone can experience guilt regardless of what religion they follow. It’s a part of human nature.

It’s an overblown stereotype specifically targeted against us Catholics.

 

[anixx]

Something that always seems to pop up in media every now and then is the term “Catholic guilt”. Why do people assume that Catholics are known for guilt? I think I’ve even talked with former Catholics who have said they felt guilty during their practicing days.

Personally, I feel guilty when I do wrong things…If my head is on straight, of course. Doing wrong should feel wrong.

I don’t get the stereotype though, I feel like there’s more people trying to love each other than beat each other over the head with rules.

Well, it’s the deformed and sinful conscience yelling to God. It’s what you would expect in Hell.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Anyone can experience guilt regardless of what religion they follow. It’s a part of human nature.

It’s an overblown stereotype specifically targeted against us Catholics.

At the same time, stereotypes have a foundation in truth, else they wouldn’t have the “staying power” that they do. Witness the frequent posts here from those suffering from scrupulosity. Early exposure to the extremes of “nun theology” (ex.: “It’s a mortal sin to let the Host touch your teeth”) in the 30’s to the 60’s clearly affected several generations of Catholics - and this isn’t a knock against the thousands of good religious women who gave their lives to the education of Catholic children in those years. Their own formation was clearly of a different era. The Jansenist influence on some of the teaching orders at that time is well recognized.

 

[tomgosse]

At the same time, stereotypes have a foundation in truth, else they wouldn’t have the “staying power” that they do. Witness the frequent posts here from those suffering from scrupulosity. Early exposure to the extremes of “nun theology” (ex.: “It’s a mortal sin to let the Host touch your teeth”) in the 30’s to the 60’s clearly affected several generations of Catholics - and this isn’t a knock against the thousands of good religious women who gave their lives to the education of Catholic children in those years. Their own formation was clearly of a different era. The Jansenist influence on some of the teaching orders at that time is well recognized.

I grew up in a predominantly Irish, Roman Catholic parish and most certainly was exposed to “Roman Catholic guilt.”

 

[Irishmom2]

I grew up in a predominantly Irish, Roman Catholic parish and most certainly was exposed to “Roman Catholic guilt.”

Would you be able to give an example of this? Like the OP, I have never understood the concept either.

 

[GLam8833]

From what I could look up, the Jansenists over-emphasized Original sin and
the need for saving grace. It amuses me to learn that Port-Royale, which was
a haven for Jansenists also harbored Blaise Pascal a noted Catholic Mathematician!

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

All I know is that I say the word “sorry” about fifty times a day. I don’t even mean to exaggerate there, I did the math and it is often up to six times per hour—multiply that by 16 waking hours in a day and there ya go. I apologize for basically anything I do. I don’t know if it is inspired in part by my Catholic upbringing or if it is just a character flaw.

 

[Irishmom2]

All I know is that I say the word “sorry” about fifty times a day. I don’t even mean to exaggerate there, I did the math and it is often up to six times per hour—multiply that by 16 waking hours in a day and there ya go. I apologize for basically anything I do. I don’t know if it is inspired in part by my Catholic upbringing or if it is just a character flaw.

Ok, so again, if you believe it is your Catholic upbringing, could you give an example? I still don’t understand it.

 

[christofirst]

Often it seems that those who have left the Church are the ones who most loudly rail against “Catholic guilt.” If I can just silence my pesky conscience, I can do whatever I want!

 

[Irishmom2]

**

Often it seems that those who have left the Church are the ones who most loudly rail against “Catholic guilt.” If I can just silence my pesky conscience, I can do whatever I want!

I have thought this too, I must confess. Guilt usually comes to me when I know I did something wrong, otherwise I wouldn’t feel that way.

 

[CruceSignati]

I think that some of this “Catholic guilt” may be based in scrupulosity. If a person is really scrupulous, they end up feeling guilty a lot of the time and this can wear them down. On the other side of things, modern culture promotes a let-it-go, feely-goody, its-all-cool, hakuna matata sort of philosophy, so Catholics who are exhausted by being super-scrupulous will easily fall into this, never wanting to go back to that feeling of constant guilt. Does this answer your question?

 

[christus_vincit]

Something that always seems to pop up in media every now and then is the term “Catholic guilt”. Why do people assume that Catholics are known for guilt? I think I’ve even talked with former Catholics who have said they felt guilty during their practicing days.

Personally, I feel guilty when I do wrong things…If my head is on straight, of course. Doing wrong should feel wrong.

I don’t get the stereotype though, I feel like there’s more people trying to love each other than beat each other over the head with rules.

Guilt means our conscience is still functioning. That when we sin, we still realize that we have sinned. Of course feeling guilt is not the same as contrition - but it can certainly lead to contrition. The popular term “catholic guilt” stems from a culture that no longer feels guilt and scoffs at those who do. If society no longer believes in sin, then what need is there for guilt? But as Catholics, we know that sin is real and that it offends God. Why then shouldn’t one feel guilty after committing a sin? Guilt is healthy. Only the deformed conscience of a self-serving individual would see guilt as a bad thing.

 

[DaveBj]

Something that always seems to pop up in media every now and then is the term “Catholic guilt”. Why do people assume that Catholics are known for guilt? I think I’ve even talked with former Catholics who have said they felt guilty during their practicing days.

Personally, I feel guilty when I do wrong things…If my head is on straight, of course. **Doing wrong should feel wrong. **

I don’t get the stereotype though, I feel like there’s more people trying to love each other than beat each other over the head with rules.

The bolded above may be the wisest statement that I will read all day.

On topic, I’m a convert, but I was brought up in a hardcore holiness denomination that knew a thing or two about imposing feelings of guilt. It appears to me that the cause for some people’s experiencing inappropriate guilt feelings is that they were brought up under the influence of elders (teachers and parents) who were themselves improperly catechized. I don’t mean to minimize the seriousness of sin (meaning things that actually are sins, not silly things like letting the Host touch your teeth), but someone who is majoring on feeling guilty about things might have forgotten about the grace of God. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

[anon98328916]

Something that always seems to pop up in media every now and then is the term “Catholic guilt”. Why do people assume that Catholics are known for guilt? I think I’ve even talked with former Catholics who have said they felt guilty during their practicing days.

Personally, I feel guilty when I do wrong things…If my head is on straight, of course. Doing wrong should feel wrong.

I don’t get the stereotype though, I feel like there’s more people trying to love each other than beat each other over the head with rules.

I think Catholic guilt happens to all Catholics as much as lukewarm or lapsed etc… They still experience it at some stage throughout their lives. Personally I think Catholic guilt is the Holy Spirit.

 

[coachdennis]

Ok, so again, if you believe it is your Catholic upbringing, could you give an example? I still don’t understand it.

Ok, this will probably wind up offending somebody on this forum, but here we go…

1. Unless you are a cradle Catholic, the term “Catholic Guilt” probably means nothing to you. It is kind of a shorthand to describe certain experiences, mostly experience as a child.
2. As a previous poster stated, much of it came from what is also called “Nun Theology”, another shorthand term that describes what was not the truth but what certain people in authority told us children what the truth was. This usually refers to people who went through Catholic schools during 1930s and the 1960s.
3. Examples (in addition to the one mentioning never let the Host touch your teeth):
   

    If you don't eat your vegetables, it is a sin because other children around the world

will die.
Spilling milk by accident is the same as committing a sin
Being repeatedly told that you will never be as holy as the saints, implying you are dirt
If a non-Catholic relative dies and you did nothing to convert it is your fault THEY are spending eternity in hell
Talking in church is a mortal sin
Sex and anything remotely related to it is just evil

   Get the idea?

1. Personal Experience: Since my mother was a working mother, after school I went over my aunt’s house. If I did anything wrong (accident or not), I was told that Mary in heaven is weeping as well as the saints. In the third grade of my parochial school the teacher asked “Who wants to go to heaven?” Everyone raised their hands except for me. I explained why would I want to go to a place where everyone is crying all the time and heaven sounded like a horrible place. Teacher called my mother and auntie’s babysitting career came to an abrupt end!

I hope this helps

 

[Beryllos]

Ok, so again, if you believe it is your Catholic upbringing, could you give an example? I still don’t understand it.

It may be more of a family or cultural upbringing issue than a true Catholic issue.

Here is an example I have experienced: Let’s say you are unhappy with the working conditions and pay at your job, but you like your fellow workers and/or the company as a whole. If you apply for a better job, you may ask yourself whether you are being too self-centered, too concerned about money or prestige. You may feel sorry for the co-workers you are leaving behind, who will have to take up your workload in addition to their own. You may feel responsible for their happiness. You may feel responsible for the smooth operation of the company you are leaving. You may do extra work, even unpaid work, at the end, in order to smooth the transition for the ones you are leaving behind.

Do Catholics worry about this more than Protestant, Jewish, or others? I think so.

 

[Boswell]

Guilt means our conscience is still functioning. That when we sin, we still realize that we have sinned. Of course feeling guilt is not the same as contrition - but it can certainly lead to contrition. The popular term “catholic guilt” stems from a culture that no longer feels guilt and scoffs at those who do. If society no longer believes in sin, then what need is there for guilt? But as Catholics, we know that sin is real and that it offends God. Why then shouldn’t one feel guilty after committing a sin? Guilt is healthy. Only the deformed conscience of a self-serving individual would see guilt as a bad thing.

 

[CradleJourney]

Would you be able to give an example of this? Like the OP, I have never understood the concept either.

“For all I have done and all I HAVE FAILED TO DO…” - this along with some “nunly influence” comes the closest to explaining my version of it. If there is ever something I could do to make things better (avoid spilling something, say more kind words, always respect my parents no matter what, etc.) and I didn’t do it, then I have sinned.

I don’t think I’m scrupulous, however, I notice a decided difference in my concern for everyone else’s happiness and feelings compared to my own when dealing with other people. Things they brush off without a second thought, I agonize and feel guilty over (such as taking the last piece of cake not realizing someone else had not had a piece, etc.)

 

[Kit15]

All I know is that I say the word “sorry” about fifty times a day. I don’t even mean to exaggerate there, I did the math and it is often up to six times per hour—multiply that by 16 waking hours in a day and there ya go. I apologize for basically anything I do. I don’t know if it is inspired in part by my Catholic upbringing or if it is just a character flaw.

Me too. I’m very apologetic.

But I KNOW it’s a character flaw. I don’t like to be the slightest imposition on anyone. But I am fully aware that what I’m apologizing for was not sinful in any way. So no…it’s not “Catholic Guilt”. It’s me.