“Wicca is a modern, false, pagan religion, closely tied to occultic practices and the
modern “New Age” movement. It professes worship of nature and often honors demons
under the guise of gods and goddesses. Its practices include rituals, the use of magic
and divination, and are usually linked to grave matters of sexual immorality. The
Catholic Church teaches that all forms of magic, divination, and occult practices are
mortally sinful and incompatible with the Christian faith as they are in direct violation of
the first commandment. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC
2116–2117), these practices seek to manipulate spiritual realities apart from God’s will,
which the Church considers a violation of trust in divine providence and authority. While
the Church values and respects individuals, it desires the salvation of all souls and
warns that engaging in witchcraft opens one up to harmful influences and leads away
from God. Catholics are called to rely on prayer, sacraments, and God’s grace, and
never to engage in occult practices. All Wiccans are loved by God, who desires to show
them mercy and forgiveness through Christ. However, anyone in a state of unrepentant
mortal sin effectively remains under the authority structure of Satan rather than that of
God’s and is therefore His enemy.
The sins of unrepentant Wiccans connect to the seven deadly sins, which Catholic
teaching identifies as root vices leading to other sins:
1. Lust: Sexual immorality is primarily tied to lust, the disordered desire for sexual
pleasure outside God’s plan for marriage.
2. Pride: Seeking spiritual power apart from God, as in magic or occult practices,
reflects pride—placing oneself above divine authority.
3. Greed: Desire for control, power, or
4. gain through spells can stem from greed.
5. Envy: Using magic to harm or outdo others can involve envy.
6. Sloth: Neglecting God’s grace and moral effort for easier spiritual shortcuts can
reflect spiritual sloth.
7. Wrath: Cursing or hexing others manifests wrath.
8. Gluttony: Overindulgence in sensual or ritual excess can relate to gluttony.”
Illustration by: Colton Rompala