Expert: Tom Schott - 6/27/2008

Question
I was born and raised in a normal average every day Catholic family with an extremely Catholic oriented mother and grandparents on her side. I have also been interested in ghosts and paranormal phenomina since I was very young. Ghosts, orbs, aliens, witches, and even demonic posessions facinate me. My mother says bad things about it when I research it because I'm curious. What does the Catholic church say to explain these phenomina other then that they're "miricals"? Where does the Catholic church say about all of this? Are ghosts souls of people in pergitory? Or is it that this world IS the one and true Hell? I've heard so much that I don't want to begin to say what I've heard. Can you help me out? It'd be much apreciated.

~Ashley~

Answer
Ashley,

The Catholic Church does not say that the phenomena you describe are "miracles." It does believe that a spiritual world exists. It offers no official explanation for ghosts, aliens, etc. Generally speaking, the church is leery of the paranormal. No one knows what hell or purgatory is, so speculation about it could include yours. Don't know how much help this is. All I can say is that there are many things about this world and existence in it that we don't know.