Scrupulosity: finding a good priest
So I need some advice.
Ive been dealing with scrupulosity for the past 6 months and its not getting any better.
In fact, the things I worry about are getting more and more specific.
I know that I need to get a good priest and trust him and what he says.
But what is meant by “good” priest, and what if I cant find one?
Ill try to explain but I basically spoke to so many priests by now. The first one I spoke to is really nice, hes always available and willing to talk for hours. But I just dont feel like I can trust him because of the way he answered some questions. Firstly, when I asked him if its a s-n to watch illegal movies he said he didnt know but then just told me that it should be fine because movies are expensive. I asked him once that I dont know what to do because I wasnt sure if I could lie to keep my job, he just told me to pray about it and gave me pros and cons of doing it. Lastly, when I asked if its okay for my boyfriend and I to have sleepovers (in the same bed) he said its okay if it doesnt tempt us.
I noticed that I just didnt trust him anymore so I went to talk to my other priest (I go to 2 different parishes), who is polish. This parish has 2 priests. The first one was a complete miss- not only did he never have time for me but he straight up went against the catechism in giving my an answer for one of my questions.
The second one in that parish is this older polish priest. So far hes the one Im refering to when I say “my priest”. Hes maybe a tad more traditional that the first one but he also said its not a s-n for my boyfriend and I to have sleepovers.
Finally, there is one more priest I have started going to. Its this womans priest who has been helping me through my scrupulosity. She always talks about how great he is. However, I spoke to him 2 times now and I just have a really bad feeling about him. His approach is to make everything about past trauma, which I understand to some extent but sometimes it doesnt make sense. I answer every question he asks me and even told him stuff about my past that only my boyfriend knows, just because I want to get better and if this is the way then so be it.
But he kind of just took whatever trauma or past s-ns I had a ran with it. For example when I asked him if cuddling with my boyfriend is allowed he said I’m only asking that because of my painful sexual past that I need to heal? I think thats ridiculous because I just simply want to know an answer to a topic that the church hasnt issued an authoritative statement on. And no matter what I ask him, he just blames it on my dad not being there when I was younger. If I ask him something as simple as “what are we allowed to do on Sunday” he will somehow bring it back to my dad. Hes also really reluctant to give me some answers and just says he doesnt know sometimes.
Btw Im not someone who shys away from therapy, Im in therapy, so I really dont mind him asking questions about my past and even linking my current issues with it, but he just overdoes it.
To summarise: All of the first 3 priests believe that its okay for my boyfriend and I to have sleepovers. 99% of the time I ask if something is a s-n they say its not.
I can either stay with my current priest who is really kind, always has time for me but who is (I feel) a little lenient, or this new one who is a bit more traditional but doesnt really understand that my questions come from scrupulosity not my trauma.
I also just feel like im priest shopping which is kind of making the whole thing of even talking to a priest feel pointless, but I cant stay with a priest I dont trust.
I dont know what to do.
Posted Jun 25, 2026, 6:43 AM UTC