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Catholic guilt is the feeling of remorse, self-doubt, or personal responsibility that results when a Catholic or Lapsed Catholic engages in sinful acts. Habitual obsessive guilt over trivial or imagined sins is the error of scrupulosity [1] and is suspected to stem from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

It must be noted that the term Catholic Guilt is controversial: for some Catholics, lapsed Catholics and even non-Catholics, the term is used to express a sense of "liberation" from what they see as a misguided, outdated, or misinterpreted moralism; for others, it connotes a dismissive or belittling attitude toward traditional Catholic moral teachings, or an attempt to "psychologize" or "secularize" what they see as authentic spirituality. The term is often seen, therefore, as either a disparagement of traditional Catholicism or as a statement of psychological maturity.

Contents 1 Stereotypes and the science of Catholic guilt 2 Catholic guilt in context 3 See also 4 References 5 Other Reading

Catholic guilt may be particularly acute where there is an especially stark juxtaposition of widespread cultural acceptance and Catholic condemnation of a particular sin. The following is a list of such 'hot topic' issues.

• Abortion: The shame and guilt surrounding this perceived sin is sometimes blamed on Catholic morality. (The implication being that such feelings are irrational and are in fact Catholic guilt).[2]. Many however argue that 'abortion guilt' is not distinctly Catholic but universal and under reported. [3]

• Adoption: Opposition to homosexual adoptions puts Catholics and Protestants in conflict with modern ideals of inclusiveness. Catholic Charities of the Boston Archdiocese closed rather than run afoul of tolerance laws. [4]

• Birth control: Catholic hospitals and health care professionals are forbidden to dispense contraception and abortofacients. This inconvenience is sometimes derided as an attempt to inflict Catholic Guilt on others and to see these things criminalized.[5]

• GLBT: Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgendered people who are raised Catholic or protestant can view Catholic Guilt as an obstacle to happiness and self realization.[6]

• Masturbation

• Original sin

• Pornography

• Premarital sex

• Lapsed Catholic
• Scrupulosity
• Religion and sexuality

• 'Scruple'. Catholic Encyclopedia (1917). Retrieved August 22, 2006.
• 'I too want to be excommunicated'. I too want to be excommunicated Retrieved August 22, 2006
• 'Forbidden Grief'. Forbidden Grief by Theresa Burke, Ph.D., with David C. Reardon, Ph.D. Retrieved August 22, 2006.

• Sheldon, Kennon M.; University of Missouri-Columbia (2006). "RESEARCH: Catholic Guilt? Comparing Catholics' and Protestants' Religious Motivations". International Journal for the Psychology of Religion Vol. 16 (No. 3): 209-223. DOI:10.1207/s15327582ijpr1603_5. 

• Hayes, Mike. "Convent from Hell: The Magdalene Sisters and Catholic Guilt (Movie Review)", BustedHalo.com, 2003-03-05. Retrieved on November 1, 2006.

• Mallon, John. "The Primacy of Jesus, the Primacy of Love", Inside the Vatican, 2006-04. Retrieved on November 1, 2006.