Ghosts and stuff?

[DAF]

In light of halloween quicly approaching, what is our Chuch's answer to ghosts and spirits and experiences and such? Does the Church aknowledge that spirits wander the earth and tha they can jump out of closets yelling boogedy boogedy!
Basically, what's the Church's stance on spirits and such? Why aren't they in Hell or Purgatory? Can the Devil let them out to abuse people?
danke

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
10/30 - Thirty-first Sunday

DAF,

Good question. Essentially, ghosts can be one of two things - either (a) spirits in Purgatory who have been allowed to appear on earth or (b) they're demons. The first option has occurred a number of times to various saints; typically, they are silently pleading for prayers so that they can go home. No one is forced to believe in ghosts, though; we all believe in demons. The best thing to do for a ghost is to pray for them - if they're really people, then they need to go Home, and to keep them here and show them off is cruel. Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono

[phatcatholic]

here are some helpful articles on this topic:

[b]--[url="http://www.catholic-legate.com/qa/ghosts.html"]Ghosts and Catholicism[/url]
--[url="http://www.cts.org.au/2000/soulsandspirits.htm"]Souls and Spirits[/url]
--[url="http://www.saint-mike.org/library/brojp/7ghosts.asp"]Seven Kinds of Ghosts[/url]
--[url="http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19980901/ARTICLES/GHOSTS.HTM"]What Are Ghosts?[/url]
--[url="http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2002/0210clas.asp"]What Spirits Are and What They Aren't[/url][/b]

pax christi,
phatcatholic