What Does the Roman Catholic Church Say About Ghosts?
The existence of ghosts is a controversial matter. The Roman Catholic Church's position on this issue is rather vague. Although images of ghosts are alluded to in the Bible, the presence of ghosts is not a belief set forth by the Catholic church. However, the intermediary position between heaven and hell poses the possibility for ghosts to maintain contact with the living at some point.
Other People Are Reading
-
Features
-
The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian church in the world. It is headed by a Pope, who is considered to be the authority in religious matters. Catholicism is based on the teachings of Jesus as noted in the Bible. It is rooted in the belief that there is one God, who consists of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as set forth in the Nicene Creed. Followers of this religion are required to go through seven sacraments and obey the Ten Commandments.
Identification
-
The Roman Catholic Church does not recognize the existence of ghosts. This is because doing so would be contrary to their beliefs regarding the afterlife. According to the church, a soul leaves the body after death. The soul is either accepted into heaven or condemned to hell for all eternity. However, ghosts are believed to be spirits that left the body after death but did not leave the earth, which is in contrast to what the Catholic church believes.
-
Theories/Speculation
-
Believers in ghosts tend to think that spirits remain on earth after death to complete some unfulfilled purpose. The Catholic church instead believes in the doctrine of purgatory. According to the church, purgatory is the place between heaven and hell where sins and unsettled issues are removed from the soul in preparation for the soul's entrance into heaven. However, the church does not rule out the possibility that God may allow souls in purgatory to reach out to the living in the form of a ghost to resolve unsettled issues.
Considerations
-
Although the Catholic church does not believe in ghosts, they do believe in Satan. Satan is defined as a fallen angel consumed with evil. Satan acts to tempt the living and has the power to take over their bodies. In fact, the church has exorcism rites to free someone from Satan. Exorcisms can only be performed by a priest after obtaining permission from the bishop.
Expert Insight
-
According to the Bible, the dead can appear to the living, as Moses appeared to Jesus and several apostles years after his death. Also, as noted in 1 Samuel 28:7-19, a ghost-like image of Samuel speaks to Saul. So, in some way, the dead can make their presence known to others on earth and communicate messages. However, it is strictly against the teachings of the church for the living to reach out to the dead.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit www.trekearth.com
More Like This
Comments
-
I am hurt when we say of our dead loved ones communicate or make their spiritual presence felt to be as demons. If the church do not believe in ghost or spirits of love ones that to me would be a controversy ---- How then do you explain on Catholic apparitions --- are they not spirts too? Apparitions are like ghost apparations. Virgin Mary's apparition --- Fatima children. I can also say the Fatima is a fake.
-
I am hurt when we say of our dead loved ones communicate or make their spiritual presence felt. If the church do not believe in ghost or spirits of love ones that to me would be a controversy ---- How then do you explain on Catholic apparitions --- are they not spirts too? Apparitions are like ghost apparations. Virgin Mary's apparition --- Fatima children. I can also say the Fatima is a fake.
-
wabiabi
Aug 03, 2010
Followers are not 'required' to go through 7 sacraments. The Church does have 7, including Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Sacrament of the sick, and Holy Orders (for priests and deacons). The sacraments of initiation (full communion with the church) are Baptism, Communion (Eucharist), and Confirmation. The Pope in unity with his Bishops is the teaching authority of the Church. Actually it was the Catholics who complied the Bible to unify the Christian teachings. Catholics leaders collected and discerned which writings were divinely inspired. For 100's of year before the Bible the Christian faith was handed down word of mouth. Bishop to Bishop, Priests to laity - we call that Sacred Tradition. Sacred Tradition, the Bible, and the Pope in union with the Bishops (Magisterial Teaching) is the three part way God reveals Himself to us (Divine Revelation). -
luxveritaslux
Jul 11, 2009
This article is full of inaccuracies. First of all the Catholic Church does indeed believe in spirits (or ghosts if you wish) and does not discount the fact that spirits may revisit places known to them in their earthly lives. It is Catholic teaching that the souls of those in purgatory are undergoing a spiritual purification and that the word purgatory means "to purify". This purification of the souls is in order for the soul then be able to handle seeing the Beatific vision (God). Furthermore, purgatory is NOT a place as the author of the article states. It is a spiritual state not a physical place and it is not a place where the soul has unsettled issues settled, it is for the purification of the soul itself. It seems the author is also not aware that the Catholic Church teaches that there are spirits that roam the earth known as principalities (Ephesians 6:20) and are known...
