Is my friend's ability to see the past and future sinful?
The short answer
Not in itself; we are not culpable for what we do not will. It becomes a problem only if he deliberately seeks such knowledge through occult means or puts groundless faith in occult phenomena. It might be a form of private revelation; he should be discreet and seek a sound confessor or spiritual director.
A person is not morally responsible for what he does not will. The problem arises only if someone deliberately seeks knowledge of the past or future through occult means, or puts groundless faith in supernatural or occult phenomena.
What your friend experiences may not be occult at all but a kind of private revelation. Still, he should be careful:
- He should not talk about it with impressionable people; sharing it with those who do not understand could cause scandal.
- He may be tempted to develop the ability or exploit the knowledge.
He would do well to seek help from an orthodox, balanced confessor or spiritual director in handling it in keeping with his Catholic faith.
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