Masturbation

Hello all,

With our Gethsemaus 07 camp drawing near, one of the topics which will be discussed is that of sexuality.

In the context of sexuality, the topic of masturbation will definitely be discussed at some point. This subject would definitely be intriguing for the youths as many of them would most probably be at adolescent stage now whereby the human sexuality senses are awaken.

We might have read or heard the many medical or psychological explanations with regards to masturbation. What then, is the Church teachings in this area? Is it viewed as a mortal sin or venial sin? Could it prevent us from getting into heaven?

Read on for a brief insight into this subject...

What the Church teaches about masturbation

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, an act of masturbation in itself is serious matter for sin.

The teaching authority of the Church in the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church says masturbation is an “intrinsically and gravely disordered action.”

The Catechism states, “‘The deliberate use of the sexual faculty for whatever reason outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.’ For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of ‘the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved’” (#2352).

Whatever the motive, solitary sex in itself contradicts the meaning of human sexuality, which is meant by God to be shared between a man and a woman in marriage.

Using one’s sexual powers outside of intercourse within marriage is disordered. It is self-love rather than love for a spouse and the fruit of married love.

Is masturbation then is viewed as a mortal or venial sin?

For a sin to be mortal, it requires two other elements. They are sufficient freedom (willfulness and consent) and knowledge or awareness. It is not always easy to judge how much freedom and consent—or awareness—are present in an act.

What it means basically is for it to be mortal sin, it would have to be done deliberately, knowing that it is not what God wishes for us and without any regard for that.

In order to judge the morality of a human act, certain conditions have to be considered.

How much sense of sin does this sinner have? Has anger or passion of another sort blotted out reason or swept the person away? How much obsession or compulsion has been present in an act of masturbation, how much ability to resist?

The Church recognizes, for example, that in the practice of masturbation, psychological factors including adolescent immaturity, lack of psychological balance, and even ingrained habit can influence a person’s behavior, and this could lessen or even eliminate moral responsibility.

Sometimes, even a confessor (i.e. a priest) will have much difficulty evaluating those things. Sometimes the individual himself or herself will be asking whether he or she fully intended such an act, acted with full freedom.

A condition that many persons claim for their innocence regarding masturbation is habit, and it certainly known that difficult habits are to break. It must keep in mind; however, that habit does not completely destroy the voluntary nature of our acts.

As Christians who are going to be held accountable for our actions, one must strive to unite ourselves to the Lord and, therefore, do all one can to curb or eliminate all habits that detach us from Him. As with any sin, he or she needs to struggle and attempt to resist the temptation. Hence, a person may not simply proceed to self-stimulate, saying it is compulsive or a habit that is hard to break.

Hence, if a person is masturbating and knows fully that it is wrong, and does it willingly without doing anything to resist, then he or she is guilty of grave sin.

Could it prevent us from getting into heaven?

Theologians and psychologists may differ about how compulsive an action may have been. In such cases a person should confess the act and circumstances to a confessor (i.e. a priest) and put them in God’s hands and to God’s mercy.

After listening to all of the circumstances and conditions surrounding an individual’s actions, the confessor will make a judgment and give the proper guidance.

Sometimes, professional help will have to be sought. But caution will have to be exercised with this because some professionals will actually encourage masturbation, and this would be wrong.

God knows that we will sometimes fail, but He does expect us to do our best to live according to His ways. He knows when we have done all we can to resist sin. If we have done that and have acknowledged and confessed our sin, then we can rest in the knowledge that we have done our best, and that He will forgive us.

Cleared for publication by Rev Fr. David Thexeira
Published by Jacob Soo