Unhealthy Devotions

In an attempt to warn the faithful about the dangers that lurk behind unhealthy devotions, the Catholic Church has condemned all New Age and occult practices in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

According to section 2116, "All forms of divination are to be rejected. Recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to unveil the future, consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church also states in section 2117, "All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others—even if this were for the sake of restoring their health—are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons."

For more information on why the Catholic Church condemns all New Age and occult practices, please proceed to the Unhealthy Devotions Review Page.