Dear Kevin,

Thanks for the question.

You said:

• I am aware that you shouldn't get involved with the people who hold to New Age beliefs but would it be wrong for someone, like me, to meet someone like that and give them a chance to explain themselves?

I know God wants us to be careful, but I believe He wants us to give people a chance, and not treat people like pariahs.

Maybe God allows these people to work, not only because of the free will He has given them, but because He believes in them and their capability of doing as much good as we can.

The Catechism tells us:

2116 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.48 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.

God does believe in the capability of every single person and their ability to change years of sinful living to years of faithfulness to the Church, but they have to choose to change.

If people have freely chosen to get involved in these forms of divination and have no interest in changing, meeting with them to talk about the Catholic faith will only lead to a rationalization of why (what they are involved in) is OK. They have chosen to make themselves outcasts or pariahs.

While I admire your desire to give them a chance, in doing so, you are giving them a chance to persuade you to become a New Ager.

You have to discern whether they are open to your faithful Catholic views or not.

• If they are not, or
• if you are not well grounded in the teachings of the Church

I'd stay far away, but keep them in your daily prayers.

I hope this helps,

Mike