Catholics & Voodoo

I know that some followers of Voodoo are Christians, many are Catholics, though some are Protestants.

For many of them their veneration of saints is connected to reverence and devotion to the loa. Is there a certain way that many or most of these practitioners who are at least culturally Christians view Jesus? Is he a loa for them, or do they view him much like any Christian, but within the context of Voodoo?

I only know second hand about Haiti. I know a lot of people, mostly Catholic, who have done medical missions there.
The RCC definitely has an accommodation with it there. For instance, many many funerals start out in the church where the priest does his part. But he doesn't follow the procession outside. Because there the Voudou are waiting to carry on the rest of the way.
Tom

A lot of people think voodoo is about dolls, pins, needles, hexes, and spells. If the belief that the spirits of those who have died in a state of grace can assist us on earth with their prayers and that we are in communion with them through the body of Christ, then yes, that part of vodoo I must say I'm guilty of (if that in it of itself is called "Vodoo".). I dont use the words loa but it is a similar concept.

I believe we are bound to certain angels and souls in Heaven as well as ancestors looking out for us. When you put flowers on your Mother's grave and speak to her and believe she can hear you, that is very similar practice to vodoo devotion to an loa, but it isn't condemned in Scripture as being forbidden.

My belief is we can greater bind and consecrate ourselves to theses souls by means of words, acts of the will, penance, and fasting to become more in mind, heart, and will with them, and better serve them.

Louisianna vodoo which was brought to America through the West-African slaves was very much a mix with Catholicism. Marie Laveau, known as the "Vodoo Queen" encouraged her followers to attend Catholic Mass.

However, Catholicism rejects vodoo:
Catechism:
The Catechism in No. 2116 says, “All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.”

The concept of the Creator in Vodou as it is in Catholicism. There are huge "cultural" differences and a few religious I can think of is Vodou is more about intemedaries to communicate with god where Catholics go to him directly.

PopeADope said:

The Catechism in No. 2116 says, “All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.”

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Divination is using items etc to either predict the future (as commonly thought of) or to help communication (like writing a letter) between god, the spirits, to the people.

For example, in Catholicism the source of divination (or we can say divine intervention) is from the Creator. Jesus speaks through the priest (lack of better words) to the pentinent when in confession. Basically, when you recieve absolution from the priest, you receive it from god. He is a "medium" to which god sends his forgives to the confesse. In Catholicism it isnt called divination. Maybe in vodou but they probably have the own way to refer to the Creator as a medium (rather than the "possessed") person to the people.

Thats why its similar. I wish I can think of my history, but astrology is as old as time itself. Its not new age. I would not be a bit surprised if the dates of the saints Catholic celebrates mean something in their connection with Christ. The bible is riddled with numerology. Its a cultural thang.

Vodou as far as I know is no different in regards to the importance of using numbers and signs to tell what the Creator and spirits (or to catholics saints and holy spirit) are saying. Its not sigils or anything like that. Its a historical similarity not a spiritual one.

Omens in many cultures, first hand knowledge, comes in dreams, signs, syncronicities, and just spending time with the spirits (or Catholics, Saints and Christ). Many Catholics and many religious feel they get messages, blessings, and warnings through say dreams etc. Like omens (fancy word), its just another word for say blessings.

Clairavoyance in itself is contradictory to Catholicism, true. Usually the ones who can understand what you are going through are the saints. They have a "six sense" given they are still alive to know you. They also know how to talk to god for you if you ask for help.

In vodoun, everything to my knowledge is through the spirits to the creator.

Catholicism its through Christ to the Creator.

Both have mediums.
Both rely on spirits.

Many Vodoun who are Catholic believe the saints are talking on their behalf to god just as others may not be Catholic and get their communication only from the Loa. However the differences, there are only a couple sharp differences between Catholicism and Vodou. Outside of that its all about the Creator.

Oh. Edit. Also. Vodouist dont talk to the dead anymore than protestants claim Catholics do.

@PopeADope Thank you for the like. Was thinking you thought I may be debating.

Essentially, there is no difficulty for many Vodouisants to integrate all the tenants of faith of the Church with our beliefs and practices.

There is a book entitled "Mama Lola" in which the author, having attended the Mass with a group of Vodouisants, asked a Haitian Mambo ("priestesss") how she reconciled the two apparently divergent, mutually-exclusive idieologies. Especially since the priest warned of the Church's stance, and the potential harm it could do.

The that old Mambo laughed and said, "Oh honey, it's not a problem - the priests are paid to say those things."

Something to think about:
Catholics believe they are receiving and consuming the body and blood of Jesus Christ in Communion.
Vodouuisants believe the Lwa (Spirits) receive and consume the blood - and often some of the body of the animals offered in sacrific.

Bondye Beni Ou ("God Bless You"),
Dieudonne Bokor