My cousin's a witch

[Brightest_Star]

I just found out (via facebook) that one of my older cousins considers herself a witch.
(I have seen some strange behaviours in my family but this one takes the cake.)

Anyway I feel super uncomfortable about this. I’m not sure why, as it’s not like we talk that often or see each other aside from big family gatherings… but it just settles wrongly with me. My instincts are telling me that something about this is Not Right and I feel like I need to be on guard.

I couldn’t help but think : this explains to me why she laughed in my face at my grandmothers funeral when I told her I’d become a Catholic.

I’m a new Catholic, can anyone give me some advice and/or information about this? What is the RCC’s current instruction on dealing with these matters? I do not want to deal with this the wrong way and displease God…

I don’t know if this post makes any sense, but any knowledge you can share with me about Wiccans and the RCC would be appreciated.

 

[JohnAlexander]

Wicca is complete nonsense.

It was made up very recently (1950’s) They like to pretend that it is has long tradition going back hundreds, if not thousands of years. Their history is not based on reality.

Wiccans are just witch nerds. There are some people who obsess over Star Trek or Star Wars. They get dressed up in costumes. They learn made up languages. Well Wicca is a similar phenomena. But even less rational. At least Trekies know they are playing.

When I talk to a Wiccan I feel like punching them in the face. Not because they are an offense against God but rather because they are an offense against reason.

Most likely your cousin will outgrow her game.

Don’t worry about what she says. She is not evil, just misguided. Treat her as you would treat anyone else, with kindness, patience, etc. When Wiccans can produce an Aquinas to support their position then I will take them seriously.

 

[Schieffelin]

It’s possible that your cousin has gotten herself involved in some demonic activities.

If I were you I’d avoid her as much as possible and pray for her as much as possible.

 

[Havard]

Given the limited exposure you have to her, I wouldn’t comment on her witchcraft unless your opinion is directly solicited by her. That may spoil your few opportunities to be an effective Christian witness to her. Rather, I would take the rare opportunity you are around her to just try to be an exemplary Christian, so that she makes the right associations with Christianity. And if she does ask you about witchcraft, be honest, but also try to be polite and sensitive.

Here is the Catholic Encyclopedia article on the subject:

newadvent.org/cathen/15674a.htm

 

[Serap]

it’s highly unlikely that she’s into anything evil. Wiccans consider themselves in-touch with nature. They only practice “white magic” and do not engage in anything with bad energy or karma.

She’s harmless. Just pray for her.

She would be against the Catholic faith b/c Wiccans do not believe in one God. Wiccans believe in mother nature, etc.

They really are harmless…

just pray for her conversion and be civil.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Wicca is complete nonsense.

It was made up very recently (1950’s) They like to pretend that it is has long tradition going back hundreds, if not thousands of years. Their history is not based on reality.

Wiccans are just witch nerds. There are some people who obsess over Star Trek or Star Wars. They get dressed up in costumes. They learn made up languages. Well Wicca is a similar phenomena. But even less rational. At least Trekies know they are playing.

When I talk to a Wiccan I feel like punching them in the face. Not because they are an offense against God but rather because they are an offense against reason.

Most likely your cousin will outgrow her game.

Don’t worry about what she says. She is not evil, just misguided. Treat her as you would treat anyone else, with kindness, patience, etc. When Wiccans can produce an Aquinas to support their position then I will take them seriously.

You do know that disparaging other religions like that is against forum rules, right?

 

[Cominghome89]

Wicca is complete nonsense.

It was made up very recently (1950’s) They like to pretend that it is has long tradition going back hundreds, if not thousands of years. Their history is not based on reality.

Wiccans are just witch nerds. There are some people who obsess over Star Trek or Star Wars. They get dressed up in costumes. They learn made up languages. Well Wicca is a similar phenomena. But even less rational. At least Trekies know they are playing.

When I talk to a Wiccan I feel like punching them in the face. Not because they are an offense against God but rather because they are an offense against reason.

Most likely your cousin will outgrow her game.

Don’t worry about what she says. She is not evil, just misguided. Treat her as you would treat anyone else, with kindness, patience, etc. When Wiccans can produce an Aquinas to support their position then I will take them seriously.

While it is true that many people who claim to be “Wiccan” are following a fad or simply looking for some “beliefs” that justify a sinful lifestyle, I would be extremely careful not to dismiss it as nonsense that is not dangerous.

There are many ways of dabbling in the occult that can bring demonic activity, even if one is not completely serious. Modern exorcists will tell you that the most common causes of demonic activity in someone’s life are involvement in seances, psychics, card readers, and all kinds of sorcery. People often don’t understand the gravity of what they are doing, but that doesn’t mean the devil is not involved.

It is not the teaching of the Church to obsess over these things, but neither is it Her teaching to dismiss the occult as fraudulent, silly and irrational. We must pray and speak out against the dangers of this kind of thing.

To the original poster, pray for your cousin and for all your family, that this “Wiccan” thing be just a passing fad, and pray that nothing worse may come from it. Trust that God will take care of all His children, no matter how far they stray. Pray, pray, pray

In Christ through Mary,
Frank

 

[Schieffelin]

While it is true that many people who claim to be “Wiccan” are following a fad or simply looking for some “beliefs” that justify a sinful lifestyle, I would be extremely careful not to dismiss it as nonsense that is not dangerous.

There are many ways of dabbling in the occult that can bring demonic activity, even if one is not completely serious. Modern exorcists will tell you that the most common causes of demonic activity in someone’s life are involvement in seances, psychics, card readers, and all kinds of sorcery. People often don’t understand the gravity of what they are doing, but that doesn’t mean the devil is not involved.

It is not the teaching of the Church to obsess over these things, but neither is it Her teaching to dismiss the occult as fraudulent, silly and irrational. We must pray and speak out against the dangers of this kind of thing.

To the original poster, pray for your cousin and for all your family, that this “Wiccan” thing be just a passing fad, and pray that nothing worse may come from it. Trust that God will take care of all His children, no matter how far they stray. Pray, pray, pray

In Christ through Mary,
Frank

Completely agree.

 

[Publisher]

Wicca is complete nonsense.

It was made up very recently (1950’s) They like to pretend that it is has long tradition going back hundreds, if not thousands of years. Their history is not based on reality.

Wiccans are just witch nerds. There are some people who obsess over Star Trek or Star Wars. They get dressed up in costumes. They learn made up languages. Well Wicca is a similar phenomena. But even less rational. At least Trekies know they are playing.

When I talk to a Wiccan I feel like punching them in the face. Not because they are an offense against God but rather because they are an offense against reason.

Most likely your cousin will outgrow her game.

Don’t worry about what she says. She is not evil, just misguided. Treat her as you would treat anyone else, with kindness, patience, etc. When Wiccans can produce an Aquinas to support their position then I will take them seriously.

How many Wiccans do you personally know?

I have some very good Wiccan friends. We have dinner together often.

They are second generation Wiccans…so it being a “phase” doesn’t seem likely. They have raised their three children in their faith…and are leaders of their coven…

That the modern Wiccan movement began in the 1950’s does not mean it has no antiquity…most modern Wiccans are very educated and very knowledgeable of their faiths history.

They do no see it as a continuation of an ancient faith…but a rediscovery of a faith tradition our ancestors held. They seek to reconstruct their faith as they do not rely on “revealed scripture” but on clues from history…ancient myth…and reconstructed rituals they have adopted from other systems…such as the Golden Dawn and Rosicrucians.

That they beleive the Old Gods have crediblilty and seek to honor them is not to disparage my own belief in the One God of Judeo Christian belief.

Their costumes look no more strange to me as a Friend than the robes abd costumes used by Catholic priests and religious.

 

[SaintPatrick333]

You do know that disparaging other religions like that is against forum rules, right?

witchcraft is no more a religion than the star wars and star trek junkies out there. There was no violation of rules.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

witchcraft is no more a religion than the star wars and star trek junkies out there. There was no violation of rules.

Wicca is very much a religion with very real beliefs, traditions, and practices. Labeling it as just another fandom says more about your knowledge on the subject than it does the people you are seeking to insult.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

How many Wiccans do you personally know?

I have some very good Wiccan friends. We have dinner together often.

They are second generation Wiccans…so it being a “phase” doesn’t seem likely. They have raised their three children in their faith…and are leaders of their coven…

That the modern Wiccan movement began in the 1950’s does not mean it has no antiquity…most modern Wiccans are very educated and very knowledgeable of their faiths history.

They do no see it as a continuation of an ancient faith…but a rediscovery of a faith tradition our ancestors held. They seek to reconstruct their faith as they do not rely on “revealed scripture” but on clues from history…ancient myth…and reconstructed rituals they have adopted from other systems…such as the Golden Dawn and Rosicrucians.

That they beleive the Old Gods have crediblilty and seek to honor them is not to disparage my own belief in the One God of Judeo Christian belief.

Their costumes look no more strange to me as a Friend than the robes abd costumes used by Catholic priests and religious.

Liturgical vestments are an old, continuous, mainstream part of Western culture- no more counter-cultural than a business suit, and maybe less so in that they have an older history that as been less influenced by changing fashions.

Wicca attempts to recreate a re-imaged pagan spirituality, in particular the witchcraft that was found in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon cultures, even though these like just about all European cultures feared and hated witches, sometimes more than Christians did. In my opinion they are less dangerous on a macro cultural sense than the New Age movement since they have less mainstream influence. Certainly they are unhealthy to be around, though.

 

[Serap]

While it is true that many people who claim to be “Wiccan” are following a fad or simply looking for some “beliefs” that justify a sinful lifestyle, I would be extremely careful not to dismiss it as nonsense that is not dangerous.

There are many ways of dabbling in the occult that can bring demonic activity, even if one is not completely serious. Modern exorcists will tell you that the most common causes of demonic activity in someone’s life are involvement in seances, psychics, card readers, and all kinds of sorcery. People often don’t understand the gravity of what they are doing, but that doesn’t mean the devil is not involved.

It is not the teaching of the Church to obsess over these things, but neither is it Her teaching to dismiss the occult as fraudulent, silly and irrational. We must pray and speak out against the dangers of this kind of thing.

To the original poster, pray for your cousin and for all your family, that this “Wiccan” thing be just a passing fad, and pray that nothing worse may come from it. Trust that God will take care of all His children, no matter how far they stray. Pray, pray, pray

In Christ through Mary,
Frank

Wiccans will “white light” themselves and will only engage in positive energy. I dont’ mean to say that Wiccans have it right, but a true Wiccan will not engage in things like seances and ouja boards. Those things are pure evil and Wiccans believe this also.

Wiccans love and celebrate nature. They are not dabbling in the occult.

I personally don’t get it, but they are deeply misunderstood.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Wiccans will “white light” themselves and will only engage in positive energy. I dont’ mean to say that Wiccans have it right, but a true Wiccan will not engage in things like seances and ouja boards. Those things are pure evil and Wiccans believe this also.

Wiccans love and celebrate nature. They are not dabbling in the occult.

I personally don’t get it, but they are deeply misunderstood.

They may be doing more than dabbling, but certainly the spiritual forces they are attempting to influence or get in touch with constitute occult powers.

It’s difficult to speak of “Wicca” as a whole, since there is a great deal of diversity among Wiccans. While classically Wiccans made a distinction between “white” and “black” magic (some prefer the spelling “magick” ), some today reject this distinction as Judeo-Christian “duelism.”

Even in the case of those who do still emphasize using only “white” magic and doing no harm (perhaps including a belief in the rule of sevens- that the good or harm you do to others will come back to you sevenfold), we can’t ignore the fact that they are still attempting to control occult (hidden) powers. Such occultism is foolish. They’ll either grasp hold of nothing at all or get in touch with a power they don’t understand and can’t really control, though it may play along for a while- something which revealed religion could tell them a thing or two about if they would listen.

 

[Havard]

Wiccans will “white light” themselves and will only engage in positive energy. I dont’ mean to say that Wiccans have it right, but a true Wiccan will not engage in things like seances and ouja boards. Those things are pure evil and Wiccans believe this also.

Wiccans love and celebrate nature. They are not dabbling in the occult.

I personally don’t get it, but they are deeply misunderstood.

I gotta say, I may not be an expert in Wiccans, but several of the ones I have known have held seances, and expressed an “it’s fine if you take the proper precaution” attitude when I asked if they thought about the consequences.

Maybe they didn’t get the memo?

 

[martininthefiel]

Adolescent rebellion is an interesting thing. I was raised by fire-breathing Democrats. I vote Republican most of time.

Maybe she will grow-up someday. In the meantime, benignly nod your head and smile. That is, unless you enjoy frustration, and have naturally low blood pressure.

:banghead:

 

[Serap]

I gotta say, I may not be an expert in Wiccans, but several of the ones I have known have held seances, and expressed an “it’s fine if you take the proper precaution” attitude when I asked if they thought about the consequences.

Maybe they didn’t get the memo?

If a Wicaan is holding a seance, they are not engaging in a Wicaan practice.

Seances are extremely dangerous and evil entities will emerge pretending to be a dead person.

Then again, I know Catholics who have dabbled in seances too.

eek…I steer clear of that stuff!

 

[Havard]

If a Wicaan is holding a seance, they are not engaging in a Wicaan practice.

Seances are extremely dangerous and evil entities will emerge pretending to be a dead person.

Then again, I know Catholics who have dabbled in seances too.

eek…I steer clear of that stuff!

I realize that’s the standard line, but who determines or defines what is a Wiccan practice?

 

[Nimzovik]

You do know that disparaging other religions like that is against forum rules, right?

Hmmmm… So… disparaging those that worship the devil is as **well **then methinks?

Please note. No moral equivalency is meant here.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

I realize that’s the standard line, but who determines or defines what is a Wiccan practice?

Depends on the type of Wicca. Gardnarian is the strictest and most traditional as its based off of the writings of Gerald B. Gardener. There are other forms as well. Kind of like Protestantism.