Haunted Houses

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ArdenB

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I was curious what the Church’s position is on ghosts and haunted places.
 
While Lint Hatcher doesn’t speak for the Church, he seems orthodox enough and has some provocative things to say. (Plus he’s really fun to listen to.) He’s got podcasts and books available from this website.
 
We certainly believe in the spiritual. The church believes these things are ocurring all the time. Thats why we have homes and other things blessed. St. Padre Pio had alot of experiences with the spiritual world.
I will be interrested to see what others have to say on this topic since I’m not expert on this particular topic.
I did live next door to a house that was haunted and babysat there. It was a bit unnerving.
 
ArdenB said:
I was curious what the Church’s position is on ghosts and haunted places.
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I don’t know that there is a well ennumerated position in one place to point you to…

The idea of the “ghost” who is the soul of someone who has passed wandering about jumping out of closets saying “Boo” is problematic. Catholics believe that the four last things are Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell. You are going to die, be judge and go to heaven. (Let’s hope you aren’t planning on plan B!)

We don’t really go for the idea of Bob Marley running about scaring people…

Now having said that, there are pious legends of saints or souls in purgatory appearing in apparitions. But I don’t think that is what anyone who starts talking about haunted houses has in mind.
 
ArdenB said:
I was curious what the Church’s position is on ghosts and haunted places.
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First off, there have been several time when a Catholic priest has exorcised a place or house:
  1. It may have a demonic entity attached to it.
  2. It may have a ghost (a soul in Purgatory, but still attached to the earthly realm somehow.)
  3. It may be cursed.
In case number 1, an exorcism is called for.
In case 2, a Mass for the Dead is ussually called for.
In case 3, a simple blessing may be used.

This is the way I’ve always heard it described.
 
Exactly. The “unseen spirit world” is a reality. Good points.
See oswc.org/
😃
Metaron said:
First off, there have been several time when a Catholic priest has exorcised a place or house:
  1. It may have a demonic entity attached to it.
  2. It may have a ghost (a soul in Purgatory, but still attached to the earthly realm somehow.)
  3. It may be cursed.
In case number 1, an exorcism is called for.
In case 2, a Mass for the Dead is ussually called for.
In case 3, a simple blessing may be used.

This is the way I’ve always heard it described.
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From personal experience, I had experiences with hauntings when I wasn’t a Christian. I felt presences in my parent’s second home (pre-teen - teenager), but I was playing with Tarot cards, reading about ghosts, and not practicing any Christianity. Thus, I made myself susceptible to hauntings.

In college, attempting to be religious and not suceeding, I still had problems with hauntings. I think it was a mix of not working towards GRACE and having a fascination w/ ghosts. I remember discussing my dorms’ potential hauntings w/ friends.

Graduate school was also not good b/c I was attending a liberal Episcopal ministry, for the most part. I can remember being really scared of the dark when we had a power outage for 2 days. I’m talking so afraid I was going to drive 20 minutes to sleep at a friend’s house. I knew I could take care of myself in the power outage, but I was afraid of seeing ghosts.

Moving, then getting involved in Wicca, was not wise. My house was peaceful at first, but the more Wicca I did, the weirder things became. My dreams would be haunted (pun intended) with various ghosts, spirits, and even lucid dreams about spirits. I would also “wake-dream” where I’d hear weird sounds. This, I attribute to Wicca, making myself open to any and all spiritual junk!

Finally, after making several confession, getting w/ an understanding man (my husband) who prevents me from doing Wicca/New Age, praying, and really believing in conservative Christianity, I am free of hauntings. (Thank you, JESUS!!!)

I do believe hauntings happen when we open ourselves up to them. If you live with a trusted, spiritual roommate (Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant), share with them your concerns. Have them pray with you. Get the house blessed. Married? Share it with your spouse. I recommend getting a book on spiritual warefare, esp. just a pamphlet with the prayers.

My homes were haunted b/c I opened myself up to it. My fascination with ghosts prompted my own paranoia, too. The best thing to do is work to be in a state of GRACE.

In Christ,
Cathe
 
There are differing explanations of spititual presences.

The one that seems most plausible is that some souls/spirits are locked in a kind of “nowhere zone.” It is a sort of wandering in familiar places in that soul’s past life on Earth. These souls are suffering a great void and lonliness and have not advanced to the Light for judgment. The soul is reluctant to approach the Light and therefore are locked into this “void” on Earth.

These souls, I read, can be easily moved to the Light even if they are unknown to the living. Having a Mass for such a soul is sufficient to permit that soul to move on. There is a “spirit world” as such but they do not congregate and have fellow spirit companions. They are in an abyss of loneliness and very troubled and helpless. (Or so I have read)…
 
saylo said:
There are differing explanations of spititual presences.

The one that seems most plausible is that some souls/spirits are locked in a kind of “nowhere zone.” It is a sort of wandering in familiar places in that soul’s past life on Earth. These souls are suffering a great void and lonliness and have not advanced to the Light for judgment. The soul is reluctant to approach the Light and therefore are locked into this “void” on Earth.

These souls, I read, can be easily moved to the Light even if they are unknown to the living. Having a Mass for such a soul is sufficient to permit that soul to move on. There is a “spirit world” as such but they do not congregate and have fellow spirit companions. They are in an abyss of loneliness and very troubled and helpless. (Or so I have read)…
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It would be against Catholic teaching to suggest there are souls of people who have died that have not passed on. When we die we are IMMEDIATELY judged and either are condemned and go to Hell or are saved and go Heaven or most likely Purgatory first.
For reasons unkown to us God may allow someone to see a soul in Puragtory but that does not in anyway imply the soul has not passed on.
 
saylo said:
There are differing explanations of spititual presences.

The one that seems most plausible is that some souls/spirits are locked in a kind of “nowhere zone.” It is a sort of wandering in familiar places in that soul’s past life on Earth. These souls are suffering a great void and lonliness and have not advanced to the Light for judgment. The soul is reluctant to approach the Light and therefore are locked into this “void” on Earth.

These souls, I read, can be easily moved to the Light even if they are unknown to the living. Having a Mass for such a soul is sufficient to permit that soul to move on. There is a “spirit world” as such but they do not congregate and have fellow spirit companions. They are in an abyss of loneliness and very troubled and helpless. (Or so I have read)…

This is a reasonable post to partially explain these phenomonen. Some folks are more sensitive to this energy, and you can always pray for this “presence” or feeling as if they WERE lost or frightened or confused souls.
Often they make their presence known to those who are more sensitive. Perhaps they need your prayers even though they will most likely not ask.
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thistle said:
It would be against Catholic teaching to suggest there are souls of people who have died that have not passed on. When we die we are IMMEDIATELY judged and either are condemned and go to Hell or are saved and go Heaven or most likely Purgatory first.
For reasons unkown to us God may allow someone to see a soul in Puragtory but that does not in anyway imply the soul has not passed on.
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I do not want to go against Church teachings but after death, and before a soul has been judged they still have free will. They can go to the light or they may decide through fear or influence from other entities, to not go to the light, for whatever reason. Sometimes they get “stuck” just like we get stuck emotionally.
Ignoring the information I am providing here is fine, or saying a prayer that these “presences” go where God wants them is fine too. Neither is necessary for salvation, but if it were your soul stuck in between dimensions wouldn’t YOU want someone to pray for you?
 
thistle said:
It would be against Catholic teaching to suggest there are souls of people who have died that have not passed on. When we die we are IMMEDIATELY

“IMMEDIATELY” can be very different on the other side than what we understand it to be here among the living. There is no such thing as “TIME” and there may not be such a thing as “IMMEDIATE” as we know it. A soul enters an entirely different dimension. There is no measurement such as “TIME.” I do NOT know what that may be. But it is curious.

judged and either are condemned and go to Hell or are saved and
go Heaven or most likely Purgatory first.

That is Catechism…and I believe that too. I was schooled in the catechism and do not question a single word; I believe it in its entirety.

We are still a teaching Church, true. But we are still a "learning Church: as well. There still are mysteries and there will be so until the end of time.

This topic does not go against Doctrine or Creed. We just do not know everything…we still are learning.

Near-Death Experiences (NDE) are very curious phenomena and the Church has not condemned it…it is still being looked at. As for “hauntings” and being stuck in some kind of “warp” it very well could be a condition of being “inbetween.” We do NOT know it all. This does not mean we believe in seances or the calling up of spirits for exchanges of thoughts…not whatsoever.

There are no conversations with “hauntings” they are departed souls and are in a zone of being "not here’ and “not there.”

For myself, I am not wedded to the idea nor am I closed-minded. There is much we DO NOT know about the “other side.” It may one day be revealed.

For reasons unkown to us God may allow someone to see a soul in Puragtory but that does not in anyway imply the soul has not passed on.
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Purgatory may have different facets. Could be a soul is in stalled state…ther are several states that we know of…Heaven, Hell, Purgatory and Limbo. There certainly can be another such as what this topic is exploring.

Certainly, this topic can stray into “Spiritualism” and that would be flirting with danger…we should not go there.

More mysteries are being manifest especially in these times. UFO’s are thought to be “illusions” “imaginations” “mass hallucinations” and some believe “Extraterrestrial.” But they could be something else…something that has NEVER been mentioned: SPIRITUAL. ! They could very well be transport devices from Hell. Mankind has not been imbued with all of the spiritual mysteries… God, of course, will reveal them in His own good time and when He deems them necessary.

“Hauntings” are nebulous. There are hauntings on a regular basis at Gettysburg, PA. Tourists often see marching soldiers BOTH Union and Confederate. This was a place of much death…who knows? Maybe the visions are some sort of ultra-dimensional video replays. It’s still curious. But we never should wholeheatedly trust in them either.
 
ArdenB said:
I was curious what the Church’s position is on ghosts and haunted places.
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Places can be haunted as can people. Hauntings are assumed to be demonic in origin. Hauntings can lead to problems for people and in some cases possession.

In rare cases, per certain saints, a person in purgatory are allowed to present themselves to the living to ask for prayers however they are never associated with ongoing activity but a one time appearance.
 
Coreopisis said:
Places can be haunted as can people. Hauntings are assumed to be demonic in origin even if the people see dead relatives or children as demons are deceiptful and can manifest themselves however they want. They want to gain trust so that the living will open themselves up to them and in doing so do untold damage to themselves.

In rare cases, per certain saints, a soul in purgatory may be allowed to present themselves to the living to ask for prayers however they are never associated with ongoing activity but a one time appearance.
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Schultzz said:
I do not want to go against Church teachings but **after death, and before a soul has been judged they still have free will. ** They can go to the light or they may decide through fear or influence from other entities, to not go to the light, for whatever reason. Sometimes they get “stuck” just like we get stuck emotionally.
Ignoring the information I am providing here is fine, or saying a prayer that these “presences” go where God wants them is fine too. Neither is necessary for salvation, but if it were your soul stuck in between dimensions wouldn’t YOU want someone to pray for you?
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It is not a question of ignoring the information you give because that information is wrong information and totally contrary to Church teachings. When someone dies their soul is immediately judged. If you are a Catholic you must accept that.
 
thistle said:
It is not a question of ignoring the information you give because that information is wrong information and totally contrary to Church teachings. When someone dies their soul is immediately judged. If you are a Catholic you must accept that.
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This subject would be custom-fitted for Theology or Apologetics. I will search myself on catholic site on this and if successful I’ll share the info.
 
thistle said:
It is not a question of ignoring the information you give because that information is wrong information and totally contrary to Church teachings. When someone dies their soul is immediately judged. If you are a Catholic you must accept that.
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None of the information I gave is contrary to Church teachings.* If you will read it more carefully you will see that.* Just as you have free will, when your body ceases to live, your soul will rise up out of it.* If you go to be judged you are following the will of our Lord.* But if you do not immediately go towards the light because of some preconceived fear while on earth OR because another entity has distracted you, then obviously you have made another choice.* If and when you make that choice (still free will), and go to your judgement you will begin the process of the plan that God has for you.Yes, there are judged spirits who roam this earth, and yes there are those in Purgatory.* Why do you think the Hail Mary prayer petitions the Blessed Mother to “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death.”
 
Schultzz said:
None of the information I gave is contrary to Church teachings.* If you will read it more carefully you will see that.* Just as you have free will, when your body ceases to live, your soul will rise up out of it.* If you go to be judged you are following the will of our Lord.* But if you do not immediately go towards the light because of some preconceived fear while on earth OR because another entity has distracted you, then obviously you have made another choice.* If and when you make that choice (still free will), and go to your judgement you will begin the process of the plan that God has for you.Yes, there are judged spirits who roam this earth, and yes there are those in Purgatory.* Why do you think the Hail Mary prayer petitions the Blessed Mother to “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death.”
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When we die there is no free will to choose to accept or reject God’s love. That choice is made before we die and it is the state of the soul at death which determines if a person is saved or condemned. We cannot choose after we die.
 
…first of all if you have fear of such things- don’t go there-don’t even discuss…because fear is like an invitation to lower entities…the spirit world is nothing to be afraid of -we are spirit…and if you affirm that you only accept what comes through God’s love-nothing else can… …haunted houses are different- there are ghosts(spirits who for one reason or another have not crossed over yet) who are desperate for someone to acknowledge them and that they are still here-they can and do all kinds of things to get attention… imagine being in a house where no one acknowledged you or spoke to you-or worse ignored you or were afraid of you…this is what happens…fear brings in lower entities who thrive on these emotions and they keep the ghost from seeing God’s Light…however if you have no fear- acknowledge God’s Love around you and are open to God’s help in such matters- the light a ghost begins to see comes from around you and they will go into the light of God’s love as it becomes more evident to them-they have to make that choice to go and their guardian angel will see them home to God…they are souls in trouble and by being a beacon of God’s Love - we help them find their way…those who have crossed over (they are called"in spirit"(Holy Spirit) once they have crossed over) can comfort loved ones in their grief through that same connection of God’s Love-it was promised to us in the Beatitudes-and it has been my experience that Jesus’ gift to us allows us that comfort… dreams are one way our loved ones in Spirit are allowed to connect with us after they cross-… although apparitions of the Blessed Mother and Jesus can bring them through in that form as well…how do you tell what is of God and what isn’t?-…if your first thoughts go to satan and evil - you will never recognize what is of God because your fear is too great-…but if you affirm that you only accept what comes through God’s Love and then TRUST God to handle the details- you will be privy to the most beautiful gifts of that Love and Trust…1John 4:16-18
 
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