Our culture is increasingly open to that which was formally known as “witchcraft” – namely the casting of spells, the consulting of mediums or palm-readers, the observation of horoscopes, and recourse to so-called “psychics” for crime work, etc. These practices are popularized by contemporary movies and television shows.

I am surprised by how often my own students talk about these things, though, of course, they do not engage such practices. Still, it seems that young people are more aware of these practices than I had been as a teenager in the public school system.

Witchcraft is no longer a thing of the past – secular people are turning to it as their favorite form of “spirituality.” As Christians, we must be on guard. Occult ritual and “witchcraft” have always been taken seriously by both biblical Judaism and the Catholic Church. Take for example the following examples.

In A.D. the Council of Elvira Canon 6, refused the Last Rites to those who had killed a man by a spell {per maleficium} since such a crime could not be effected without idolatry, i.e recourse to the black arts. This likely refers to some sort of poisoning since “potion-making” is associated with witchcraft.

Similarly canon 24 of the Council of Ancyra (314) imposes five years of penance upon those who consult magicians, and here again the offence is treated as being a practical participation in paganism. Similar penalties were enacted at the Eastern Council in Trullo (692). Early Irish canons also treated sorcery as a crime worthy of excommunication until adequate penance had been performed.

Engagement with the occult arts is a crime against the First Commandment and a mortal sin. We must warn are young people that these are serious sins – not something to be taken lightly. Even worse, engagement with the occult powers opens our soul to the devil and makes us eligible for demonic possession.

Our culture is increasingly open to that which was formally known as “witchcraft” – namely the casting of spells, the consulting of mediums or palm-readers, the observation of horoscopes, and recourse to so-called “psychics” for crime work, etc. These practices are popularized by contemporary movies and television shows.

I am surprised by how often my own students talk about these things, though, of course, they do not engage such practices. Still, it seems that young people are more aware of these practices than I had been as a teenager in the public school system.

Witchcraft is no longer a thing of the past – secular people are turning to it as their favorite form of “spirituality.” As Christians, we must be on guard. Occult ritual and “witchcraft” have always been taken seriously by both biblical Judaism and the Catholic Church. Take for example the following examples.

In A.D. the Council of Elvira Canon 6, refused the Last Rites to those who had killed a man by a spell {per maleficium} since such a crime could not be effected without idolatry, i.e recourse to the black arts. This likely refers to some sort of poisoning since “potion-making” is associated with witchcraft.

Similarly canon 24 of the Council of Ancyra (314) imposes five years of penance upon those who consult magicians, and here again the offence is treated as being a practical participation in paganism. Similar penalties were enacted at the Eastern Council in Trullo (692). Early Irish canons also treated sorcery as a crime worthy of excommunication until adequate penance had been performed.

Engagement with the occult arts is a crime against the First Commandment and a mortal sin. We must warn are young people that these are serious sins – not something to be taken lightly. Even worse, engagement with the occult powers opens our soul to the devil and makes us eligible for demonic possession.