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Ghost_Travelers
Guest
I am Catholic and a paranormal investigator. I would be interested in knowing how the church views this type of activity. All thoughtful and insightful views welcome and encouraged.
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1ke
Guest
What, exactly, is a Catholic “paranormal investigator”?
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
I think the following paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church shows that the Catholic Church teaches that our souls do not hang around here causing mischief.
1021 Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ. The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul–a destiny which can be different for some and for others.
1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately, – or immediate and everlasting damnation.
At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love.
That does not mean that there might not be demonic activity, but if I suspected that I would bring in a priest to bless the area rather than someone of your profession.
1021 Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ. The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul–a destiny which can be different for some and for others.
1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately, – or immediate and everlasting damnation.
At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love.
That does not mean that there might not be demonic activity, but if I suspected that I would bring in a priest to bless the area rather than someone of your profession.
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edwest2
Guest
As someone who has put some time into paranormal study, you face a few problems:
Hope this helps,
Ed
- You must know actual investigative procedure, along the lines of a police detective. There are natural phenomena that could be mistaken for paranormal activity, and some are just as simple as noises created by heat and air moving through an old building. You also should be prepared to deal with people who have either mental health issues or use illegal drugs that may cause visual and/or auditory hallucinations.
- Actual demonic possession occurs. You should read a few books by priests who have dealt with such things. These entities are much smarter than the average person and can harm you.
- Hoaxers are out there. These are people who create a story or actually add a few realistic noise makers or other devices to a location to draw the curious and perhaps pocket some money in exchange for permission to take photos or to stay in the building in question.
Hope this helps,
Ed
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Bookcat
Guest
a few thought for ya off the top of my head before bed…
It is not moral to “seek to contact the dead” such as occult practices, mediums etc…such is contrary to the Commandments…
read whole of:
vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a1.htm#I
asking “for something or someone to manifest them selves”…is not something that should ever be done…
also (and very importantly)
Much “paranormal” things are demonic…and thus not something to play around with…as exorcists will tell you (such is their field…)
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Bookcat
Guest
a few thoughts for ya off the top of my head… before bed…
It is not moral to “seek to contact/communicate with the dead” such as occult practices, mediums etc…such is contrary to the Commandments…(and such can be very dangerous)
read whole of:
vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a1.htm#I
asking “for something or someone to manifest them selves”…is not something that should ever be done…
also (and very importantly)
Many “paranormal” things are demonic…and thus not something to play around with…as exorcists will tell you (such is their field…)
and of course one should not have any obsessive or morbid interest in demonic things…(not saying you do by your interest…just noting things)
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mdgspencer
Guest
I am not sure what a paranormal investigator does. If you are involved in occult practices, Catholicism considers this sinful. This includes seances as well.
It is not against the Catholic faith to believe in ghosts. Ghosts could be people in purgatory. That is the old view of ghosts. In Sahkespeare’s play “Hamlet” the ghost of the king comes back from purgatory. But of course this is different from the practices used to supposedly contact the dead.
If this involves esp for example, the Catholic Church has nothing to say about this, which is simply a form of natural phenomena, that is, if telepathy etc. actually exists.
It is not against the Catholic faith to believe in ghosts. Ghosts could be people in purgatory. That is the old view of ghosts. In Sahkespeare’s play “Hamlet” the ghost of the king comes back from purgatory. But of course this is different from the practices used to supposedly contact the dead.
If this involves esp for example, the Catholic Church has nothing to say about this, which is simply a form of natural phenomena, that is, if telepathy etc. actually exists.
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DavidB
Guest
I noticed that you (original poster) haven’t responded to anything here. Are you still monitoring responses? I know that ghost hunting is popular these days. Wish I had Grant and Jason’s bank account 
On the other hand, at what price? As some have said here, it is a dangerous and sinful game to go around provoking and trying to get evil spirits and ghosts to manifest themselves. It can lead to demonic infestation as it opens yourself to their influence through the sin of necromancy and spiritism. Even using purely “scientific” techniques is playing with fire. I know it’s fascinating and many of us are drawn to it. But that’s where we need to resist the temptation. If someone is having a genuine problem with evil spirits, they need to contact a priest to perform an exorcism, or use lay exorcism prayers with Holy Water.
On the other hand, at what price? As some have said here, it is a dangerous and sinful game to go around provoking and trying to get evil spirits and ghosts to manifest themselves. It can lead to demonic infestation as it opens yourself to their influence through the sin of necromancy and spiritism. Even using purely “scientific” techniques is playing with fire. I know it’s fascinating and many of us are drawn to it. But that’s where we need to resist the temptation. If someone is having a genuine problem with evil spirits, they need to contact a priest to perform an exorcism, or use lay exorcism prayers with Holy Water.
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bobbysard
Guest
I have some very mixed feelings on this topic. I never believed in paranormal activities and wrote them off as over imagination. I also strongly believe in the teachings of the Catholic church. I was an unbeliever in ghost’s until one night in Jan. of 1995 when I had my own personal experiance with spirits. I wake up around 2:30 am this praticular morning to a entity of a little boy hovering over my head, he looked sureal. His deminsions were not of a normal human being. Terror flooded me at once as this was a new residence for me I had just moved into this apartment building 10 days earlier.My initial reaction was to swat at the apparation, initially he didn’t move then after checking my eyes,face and feeling my breath to make sure I was awake I looked up and he was still there. At this point I shouted out 3 times please God as my heart was racing the ghost had vanished. I thanked God and prepared to try to sleep but couldn’t I continued in prayer and about 30 minutes at 3 am I heard banging in the kitchen sounding like the banging of pots and pans, then I could hear and smell food cooking, at this point my heart beat was ramped up to about 250 beats per minute and my prayer became more ferverant. Then a image of a women walked into my room and walked right through me. Chills and a feeling that could not be described in any language came over my entire being. I continued and asked God to remove these spirits and let me live at peace I prayed for hours straight and fell a sleep; I never had another such experiance in my life. I have had my share of little nudges I believe are from our Gaurdian angels, like being suddenly alerted that you have taken your eyes off the road and would have crashed if you hadn’t been alerted just when you were. I lived in that apartment for 2 more years and never did I ever have a problem but I just knew that God had sent them away I never had a fear again and never had a problem sleeping in that apartment for those 2 years. I don’t think that conjuring up Spirits playing with quigy boards or any occult practice is advisable. But I do think that prayer, personal and traditional, the Rosary and all our beautiful Novina’s and prayers are all the strength we need to be safe from all evils. There is nothing wrong with praying for someones peace and well being. Good luck and God Bless. I would love to hear from anyone else who has had any similar occurances.
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tafan
Guest
I agree, souls do not hang around causing mischief. I do not agree that there are no such things as ghosts. I do not think those CCC quoted rule out ghosts on earth. I think that it is inline, but by no means required, with Catholic teaching to believe (maybe to strong of a word) in the existence of ghosts.
I once read a Catholic priest who gave three possible explanations for “experiences of ghosts”:
- Sometimes God allows, or even sends, the dead back to earth for a particular purpose, you would think these would be saints in Heaven.
- It is possible that some of the poor souls in purgatory are still “here” while they remove themselves from a earthly attachment
- Then there are demons, which of course are not ghosts at all, but fallen angels, who are here tempting souls
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