Do Catholics believe in ghosts?
Believe it or not, the Catholic Church does not have an official doctrine on ghosts. However, there are a few things that the Catholic Church holds to be true that can point us in the right direction.
Do Catholics Believe in Ghosts?
According to Douglas M. Beaumont from Catholic Answers, “Ghost comes from an Old English word related to the German geist, meaning ‘spirit,’ and Christians certainly believe in spirits: God, angels, and the souls of deceased humans all qualify.” So, at the most basic level, yes, Catholics do believe in ghosts. The Catholic Church believes that the soul is eternal. So, when we reach the end of our lives on earth and our bodies die, our soul remains. Our soul is reunited with our body at the end of time. As long as this doctrine guides your beliefs, you can certainly believe in ghosts as a Catholic. Furthermore, the lives of the saints are filled with stories about spiritual encounters, mystical conversations, bilocation, and dramatic visions of Heaven or Hell. Let us also remember how years ago, Catholics referred to the Holy Spirit as the “Holy Ghost.” However, nowadays when people talk about ghosts, they are referring to souls of the dead who appear within or interact with the physical world. As Catholics, we recognize that there is a spiritual battle all around us, but this does not mean that all ghost-like encounters are demonic. In fact, they may lead us to the Catholic theology on purgatory instead. We know that not every soul is destined for heaven right at death, so the idea that ghosts are souls who are undergoing a state of purification in purgatory doesn’t seem too far off. They need our prayers! It is unclear whether God permits souls to visit the material world after they are in Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory, and there are even scriptural accounts of deceased persons appearing to the living. Remember, while the supernatural may seem enticing to investigate, Catholics are prohibited from trying to contact the dead by turning to psychic mediums, ouija boards, tarot cards, and the like. In fact, participating in these is a grave sin and opens the doorway for the demonic in our lives.
Father Chris Alar, MIC, recorded a video answering the question, “Are Ghosts Real? What Does the Church Say?” as part of the "Ask a Marian" series.
In this video, Father Alar explains certain instances where God may permit a soul or "ghost" to visit the material world. The purpose of such visits varies depending on their origin in heaven, purgatory, or hell.
One of the best examples he gives is a poor soul in purgatory coming to ask for prayers!
Near the end of the video, Father Alar reminds viewers of what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says about New Age practices of contacting the dead:
“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.” - Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2116