Why do Catholics hate Wiccans/Pagans?

Question

Does anyone here know why the Catholic Church hates Wiccans so much? I am a wiccan, and I dont understand why. The Church does their best to make it seem like Wicca is either the work of the devil, or that wiccans have no gods. Also, they do their best to give Wiccans bad press. They also try to divert attention away from Wiccan holidays. for instance, Samhain. The Church created All Saints Day to divert attention away from Samhain (and yes I know, Samhain was invented by Pagan/Celtics, but there is such a slight difference). The same thing with Imbolc and Saint Bridgets Day, and Beltane with Roodmas. This happened again with Lughnasadh and Lammas. Also, about 85% of the Catholic people ive met or heard of despise the wiccans and/or fear them. What is their problem?

Answer 1

I doubt all Catholics or even many hate pagans, the reason being is that Catholics are pagans themselves, their religion is partially an offshoot of an ancient pagan religion in which a goddess was worshipped.

If any do hate them it's out of jealousy, but not jealousy for God, jealousy for their own man made religion.

Answer 2

Ignorance - on the part of both parties.

You don't seem to fully understand the reasons why Catholics celebrate the Holy Day's that the Church, and why. Yes, the Church often sets it's Holy Days so that they coincide with Pagan holidays, not to divert attention away from them but to Sanctify that which was previously unSanctified. You need not take the existence and timing of Catholic Holy Days as a personal affront to your belief system.

As for Catholics, the Church has a long history of not getting along with Pagans. Perhaps this has mislead some Catholics to believe that to be Pagan is to automatically be anti-Catholic. Obviously, this is not the case.

History has also shown that Pagans and Christians can co-exist peacefully, and that is what everyone should aim for, whether they're Christian, Pagan, whatever.

Answer 3

Because they have feared us since they first were conceived as a religion. No all Catholics hate us, many are very acceptance of us, but that has been a hard fight to turn them around. 200 years after Christ's Death the Council of Nicaea wrote the bible and edited it so that everyone would be united under one God. The problem was that not everyone wanted that and the new Church feared that the Pagans would become a threat, so they started slandering the Pagans saying we worshiped the devil, etc. The Church hasn't changed many of it's old beliefs and still thinks of us as a threat, but many of it's followers are beginning to see that as being a bad thing and so befriend us. As for them taking over all our holy days, and making it their own it was done to make Pagans more comfortable when they were converted (even if it didn't do them any good!)... As for those who despise or fear us now a days, that is because they don't know what we truly are about and still follow the Church blindly!

Blessed Be!

Answer 4

this isnt true everywhere, its the people not the church. if the people are understanding they form an understanding church. my hubby is cathloc and i am eclectic pagan. if you sit down and explain your exact beliefs with one or two, before jumping to the word pagan or wiccan they are more likely to understand. its how its explained. pagan and wiccan to you mean something completly different then it means to them. most people of christian and cathlic faiths will accept and love a "good person", most even believe that god and jesus may forgive a good person even if they follow the wrong faith. however some may be divided on whether or not you can go to heaven for just being a good person, in theory if you are forgiven then you would...anyway the church itself may not like other religions, because they feel that their religion is correct and that they have to protect the public from themselves. but the individual people can be pretty nice and understanding. they dont stone us anymore....at least i hope not!

Answer 5

Catholic here, but I don't hate pagans and Wiccans.

I just disagree with their beliefs. And so does the Catholic Church. This should not be called hate, though.

Look at it from our point of view. Suppose you believed that there was only one God and He sent His only Son to die for us and found a Church on Earth. And to be saved you must repent and accept His Son as savior.

Wouldn't you want to spread this good news to others and also discourage others from believing that paganism or Wicca are the right paths?

It makes sense.

I may disagree with other religions, but at least I understand they want to bring people into their faith.

Answer 6

The church created holidays that fell on pagan holidays to try and make it easier to transition the pagans to Christianity.

I also wanted to add that although I am not Catholic now, I was raised Catholic and I never remember the church mentioning anything about pagans or Wiccans.

Answer 7

I've never encountered any hatred against Wiccans and I'm a lifelong Catholic. It's true the Church teaches paganism is a false religion, but that doesn't constitute "hate." That only means we have different beliefs.

I think you are misusing the word hate.

The Catholic Church has prayed for the past 2000 years for non-believers. Prayer is one of the most loving and charitable things you can do for others.

Pax Vobiscum+

Answer 8

things change over time that is true. yes as many pagans converted over a thousand years ago some things changed. i don't know any Catholic that hates wiccan's. i think you are just on a vendetta. i don't believe in what you stand for and do not want it promoted to others but that's me and what i stand for.

.... one of my best friends is a wiccan. we are actually going on an historical church tour on 12.8 - would you like to join us?!

Answer 9

When you say catholics, I'm sure you mean the devout ones. Because I'm catholic and I'm very open to other religions. I think my God is Buddah, is Allah, are the trees or whatever else people worship. As long as you're a good person then I couldn't give two craps what you call God. The catholic religion is still stuck over 1 thousand years ago. Times have changed. We can believe in what we want to without condemning what others believe in. It's sad. That's why I pray from my heart and not from a church. Sorry about the other catholics. You have one that's happy enough you're a good person.

Answer 10

I'm not aware of any hatred towards Wiccans or any other group. I'm a cradle Catholic, meaning that I was born into Catholicism and have chosen, as an adult, to continue a Catholic. However all Christians, including Catholics, are supposed to be taught to love all regardless of beliefs. We're supposed to be taught that God hates what we consider to be sin but most definitely not what we consider to be the sinner. I think that I just opened up a can of worms. I'm not calling you or anyone a sinner but, for the sake of expression, even if I or anyone else considers Wicca a sin, it's still not up to me to judge. Please understand that I'm not trying to tread lightly in my response but I am trying to be clear. Although I don't consider Wicca the right path, I do not hate you or anyone else. I'm commanded not to. That's not to say I'm perfect or that I don't break commandments, I'm human. But I'm not supposed to so I have to ask for forgiveness (a few times a day, lately). In any case, I believe that Catholic holidays/celebrations, etc., were designed on certain days because these were designed to replace Pagan holidays. I guess this is true but I think that this is likely true about most religions. They were also designed to take over other religious holidays because of our conversions. I will not pretend that we are not taught to rebuke other beliefs for ourselves. This is true because we're supposed to let go of the old when we're reborn as Christians. This however does not equate to me hating you or anyone else. Veritas talked about prayer in her response and she is correct. Because we believe in our heart of hearts that Christianity is the way to the father and, ultimately, to salvation, we pray for those who do not believe as we do because we want them to find salvation via God's divine grace the way we want to find it for ourselves. All this said, peace unto you, as you are my brother in Christ.