QUESTION I have been going to Catechism Classes at St.Mark Catholic Church. Because I want to become a Catholic. I also want to become a Witch. Is this wrongful for me to do? I do believe in both. Thank you for your time and many Blessings to you.
ANSWER - I think this is a tricky one. Catholicism and witchcraft have been at opposition throughout history. At times Catholicism has denied witches actually exist and at other times has considered them such a threat that they burned them. It is hard to see how you can reconcile the two very different belief systems.
It isn't so much the fundamentals of Christianity that are the issue - I see no reason a witch cannot believe in Jesus Christ being the son of God - it is the culture that has developed round the attitude towards witches which is usually negative where Catholicism is concerned. I found a couple of examples from a Catholic website to illustrate the point:
To try to discover the future through palm reading, tarot cards, or some other form of fortunetelling, or to try to control the future through black magic, witchcraft, or sorcery violates the first commandment. Sacred Scripture has many condemnations of these activities: In the Old Testament we find, “You shall not let a sorceress live” (Exodus 22:17), “Whoever sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord alone, shall be doomed” (Exodus 22:19), “A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortuneteller shall be put to death by stoning: they have no one but themselves to blame for their death” (Leviticus 20:27), and “Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor a fortuneteller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles from the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the Lord…” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
The New Testament also addresses this issue: St. Paul condemned sorcery (Galatians 5:19). In Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul rebuked Elymas, the magician, calling him “son of Satan and enemy of all that is right” (Acts 13:8ff), and St. Peter rebuked Simon Magus, a magician, who wanted to buy the powers of the Holy Spirit to make himself more powerful (Acts 8:9ff). In the Book of Revelation, Jesus declared, “As for the cowards and traitors to the faith, the depraved and murderers, the fornicators and sorcerers, the idol-worshippers and deceivers of every sort– their lot is the fiery pool of burning sulphur– the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
I think it is hard to see how that doctrine fits with the practise of witchcraft.
What I think would be the hardest thing would be the problem of actualising yourself to your full potential as a Catholic or a Witch. One would suffer at the expense of the other and the danger is that by fully committing to neither spiritual path it would hold you back and stunt your spiritual growth and your growth as a person.
There are people who do blend Christianity and Witchcraft so I am not saying it isn't possible. Witchcraft is not a religion so it is not a direct conflict with your chosen faith. But I do think you will struggle with the conflict between one community telling you the practise of magic is immoral and another community believing it a key element of their craft.
I think it is great you have asked a witch this question and it would be a very good idea to ask your Catholic priest too so you have a clear view from both sides of the fence. From my point of view I would certainly accept and respect a witch who chose to practise Catholicism. I'd be interested to hear if your priest is willing to be equally tolerant about you choosing to practise witchcraft...
I've added a few other links from the site below as they touch on a similar subject:
How can I go back to being a Christian?
New Age V Christianity
I don't belong in Christianity, how can I become a witch?
Quotation source http://catholicstraightanswers.com/what-does-the-church-teach-about-fortunetellers-psychic-counselors-and-witches/
Image http://www.deviantart.com/art/Catholic-kitsch-cross-102243087
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