Why does the Church forbid consulting fortune tellers, horoscopes, or native charms?
The First Commandment requires believers to adore God alone and put their entire trust in him. For this reason, the Catholic Church strictly forbids all forms of divination, astrology, consulting palm readers or mediums, and using occult charms or native protective talismans.
All forms of divination conceal a desire for power over time, history, and other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honour, respect, and loving trust that we owe to God our Father alone.
Practices of magic, sorcery, or seeking to invoke occult spirits—even for good intentions like physical healing—gravely offend God. When faced with illness, fear, or uncertainty about the future, a Christian should turn to prayer, the sacraments, the intercession of the saints, and legitimate medical care.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2116
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2117
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.