Scrupulosity
Scrupulosity is a form of religious or moral obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) where a person is overly anxious about sinning, doing something morally wrong, or failing to please God — even when there’s no real reason to believe they’ve sinned.
It often involves:
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Excessive worry about minor or imagined faults (“Did I offend God by thinking that?”)
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Repeated confessions or constant seeking of reassurance from priests, friends, or spiritual directors
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Overanalyzing thoughts and actions for moral purity
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Difficulty trusting God’s mercy, focusing more on fear than on love
From a Catholic perspective, scrupulosity is not the same as a tender conscience — which is healthy and sensitive to right and wrong. Instead, it’s a disordered fear that distorts a person’s view of God, often making Him seem like a harsh judge rather than a loving Father.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori, who himself struggled with scrupulosity, advised sufferers to obey a wise confessor, trust in God’s mercy, and avoid dwelling on doubtful sins.
Join Fr. Stalla for this workshop on scrupulosity and bring your questions.
Workshops are FREE for members of Hope’s Garden and Men of Hope communities.