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What is Catholic guilt? -

Catholic guilt is a feeling of excessive guilt, felt by both practicing Catholics and non-practicing lapsed Catholics. The guilt arises when they do things that are deemed as going against the principles of the Church and God.

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Other terms -

You may also be familiar with the terms "Irish Catholic guilt" or "Catholic guilt syndrome," sometimes abbreviated to CGS. These all refer to the same thing.

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Guilt is not always a bad thing -

This self-conscious emotion is usually associated with feelings of failure, and is generally considered a negative thing. But guilt can be helpful in acting as a moral compass, and can help us distinguish right from wrong. Catholic guilt, however, is excessive and negative overall.

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There is no gray area -

Catholicism is pretty black and white when it comes to morality. Actions are either good or evil. And if they are evil, that means you’re committing a sin, and sins have consequences.

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The five precepts of the Catholic Church -

All Catholics are supposed to do these five things: attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation; go to confession (at least once a year); receive Holy Communion during Easter; keep holy the Feasts of Obligation; and observe the days of fasting and abstinence.

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Other precepts -

In addition to the five previously mentioned, there are others that should be followed, including supporting the Church and observing the Ten Commandments. Not following, or breaking these rules, can trigger feelings of guilt.

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How Catholic guilt emerges -

People tend to ruminate over the sin they committed, running the sinful episode in their minds over and over again, thinking about how they breached their and the Church’s moral code.

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What are the symptoms of Catholic guilt? -

Catholic guilt manifests like any other type of guilt. Shame, embarrassment, remorse, and sadness are usually associated with the event or action that took place.

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Even non-practicing Catholics can feel guilt -

While practicing Catholics are more prone to these feelings, those who have grown up in a Catholic household and perhaps even attended Catholic school can also feel Catholic guilt.

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Confession -

Confessing can help alleviate the guilt, but it surely doesn’t work preventively, and one can still feel guilty after confessing. This is especially true when an act of penance is recommended by the Church in order to repent for the sins committed.

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Sinful thoughts -

Guilt doesn’t just come after a sin has been committed. Just thinking about sinning can actually trigger guilt.

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Types of sins -

There are two types of sins in the Catholic Church. Committing (or thinking about committing) any of these can cause a crushing feeling of guilt.

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Mortal sins - These are the ultimate sins that will send you straight to hell. They are based on three conditions: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent.

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Mortal sins -

Grave matter means that the act is really evil (i.e. murder). Full knowledge refers to the fact that a person knows what they’re doing is wrong. And deliberate consent is about committing the sin on purpose (i.e. not being forced to do it).

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Venial sins -

These are not as serious as mortal sins. Venial sins are usually determined if the sin meets one or two of the criteria mentioned previously (all three of them will constitute a mortal sin). These minor offenses won’t completely separate the person from God, like a mortal sin would.

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Venial sins -

Examples of venial sins would be a harmless lie. Of course, while these won’t send one straight to hell, they do require some kind of penance, and usually carry a lot of guilt.

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Abandoning the Church -

Leaving the Catholic Church if a person is baptized is a mortal sin. Baptism is for life, so renouncing the Church is like abandoning God.

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Abandoning the Church -

The Church even has a Latin expression for it: Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus, which essentially means that there’s no salvation outside the Church. As you can imagine, people who go this route often end up suffering tremendously with guilt.

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Scrupulosity -

Catholic guilt can indeed become pathological. If it’s deemed serious enough that it severely affects one’s mental health, triggering constant anxiety about moral and religious matters, then it’s called scrupulosity.

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Scrupulosity -

People who suffer from severe guilt can develop numerous symptoms and conditions, including obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), to help them cope with “sinful” thoughts.

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Protestant vs Catholic guilt -

Followers of both Christian denominations can develop scrupulosity. The main difference being the rules and laws these people feel they are breaking, which vary according to the denomination.

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Relationships -

Catholics are very strict when it comes to sex and marriage. Premarital and extramarital sex is strictly forbidden, and so is the use of contraception.

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The impact of Catholic guilt on relationships -

Sexual urges are natural, but it's argued a Catholic should know better. The battle between the biological predisposition to engage in intimacy and the guilt of it being a sin can be challenging for both partners. Fear, anxiety, and guilt are usually present and can have an impact on the relationship.

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Homosexuality -

Homosexuality is considered a sin, and same-sex marriage is not allowed in the Church. Those who were raised in a Catholic home are more likely to suffer from guilt, in addition to the 'regular' guilt they already feel for not being heterosexual.

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The consequences of emotional repression -

Emotional repression can indeed contribute to depression. Those from strict Catholic families tend to be more repressed when it comes to expressing emotions, leading to excessive guilt, and potentially depression. Constant guilt alone can make one depressed.

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Overcoming Catholic guilt -

Catholic guilt is ingrained in a person’s belief system and therefore is a very difficult thing to deal with. Family values are references that stay for life, and to overcome things such as Catholic guilt is not easy.

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Overcoming Catholic guilt -

Acknowledging that we don’t have full control over our thoughts, emotions, and biological urges can be a good starting point. Seeking external help in the way of psychotherapy or other systems of support might help dealing with this guilt.

Sources: (Coaching Online) (Catholic Gallery) (Lithium Magazine) (America Magazine)

See also: A helpful guide to self-forgiveness

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