He Leadeth Me Finding Freedom From Scrupulosity
Sep 25, 2025
Fr. Denis Nakkeeran, a moral theologian and Dean of Men at St. John’s Seminary, sheds light on scrupulosity, a spiritual distortion affecting many, especially young Catholics. He explains its roots in anxiety and perfectionism and how it warps one’s view of God from loving Father to an authoritarian figure. Fr. Denis offers guidance for confessors and companions, emphasizing the importance of addressing underlying beliefs. He also provides practical tips for those struggling, advocating for trust in spiritual direction and embracing the journey of faith with grace.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Recent Rise In Scrupulosity
- Fr. Denis notes many seminarians now arrive with strong devotion paired with scrupulosity.
- He links this rise to COVID, the digital age, and increased anxiety and perfectionism in younger generations.
Scrupulosity Versus OCD
- Distinguish scrupulosity (a spiritual distortion) from OCD (a psychological cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsions).
- Scrupulosity centers on distorted beliefs about God and self, while OCD centers on uncontrollable thought-behavior loops.
Don’t Fuel Individual Scruples
- Avoid addressing individual scruples one-by-one because that fuels the network of anxious overanalysis.
- Instead, address the root distortion by repairing the person's image of God and self first.