jrabs:
If you love someone and know they are astray, why wouldn’t you want to help this person find Jesus? You cannot compare this to an occult practice because you know that this is a path to the truth.
What we Catholics ‘know’ is really what we “BELIEVE to be True”.
We
believe Jesus when He said, “I am the Truth”.
Several followers in Jesus’ day did not.
They left, basically, they went astray.
He allowed them to.
With Catholics who have gone astray. With Christians who once led a spiritual life, but end up in the occult, or leaning toward athiesm…those, I think, are the ones the green scapular should be given to. They once believed, but are now lost.
But those who never believed, express no interest in believing - to ‘hide’ a green scapular in their house, car or on their person would be an intrusion. If it means that much to you to save this person then hand them one scapular as a gift. If they destroy it, give them another. If they destroy it, give them another. One time, with the grace of God, they’ll not destroy it but toss it aside and then God’s work can continue (the decision
not to destroy it but to toss it somewhere is already God’s work through your prayers).
Yes, the scapular is not magic, but the person giving it and praying over it believes in the promises and therefore is taking an action to change a person’s heart.
An occultist who hides a charm or crystal in my car, home, or on my person and then chants a prescribed set of words or performs certain rituals believes it will bring about a change in me. We Catholics believe this can happen, that’s why we are warned to stay away from such things and expressly denied by the Church any involvement with the occult.
So if magic,
not based on Truth, can change our hearts or wear them down, and devotions, based on Truth, can do the same, then for the non-Catholic the distinction is practically non-existent. Remember many non-believers think we’re an occult too, and these type of devotions don’t really help with to dispell the misconception.