Can Catholic Priests "Help Themselves"?

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I do agree w/you all that porn is basically a bad thing. I don’t, I didn’t mean to come across as though I was glibly defending it yesterday, although that’s maybe how I did come across. I apologize. Furthermore, I should note that there will be things in this post which may well offend or even nauseate, so please, stop reading ahead of time if that’s the case.

That having been said, I have seen some examples of what another poster here said. It’s very true, as he/she said, that the porn addiction, like a drug addiction, * escalates*. It always escalates. While for most men it will not end up down in the most debased and even criminal stages , like child porn, etc, it oftentimes requires a stronger and stronger “jolt”, so to speak, to get the same “buzz” that , at age 15 for example , when it was all “new” to me, a Playboy magazine or lingerie catalog could offer. I have indeed heard of some “types” of porn, which exist mostly on the “dark underbelly” of the Internet, which sound literally vomitous. Even to a jaded hairy-palmed hellbound mortal sinner like me. It’s beyond obscene. Coprophilia / coprophagia. Urolagnia. Simulated necrophilia. “Extreme” “S and M”. All of course in variations of either “gay” or “straight”.

And I have seen, over the 15 or so years during which I have used pornography that is generally considered to be “mainstream” and can be purchased at any adult bookstore for example, the “tenor” of the porn getting more and more debased, and much more cruel , even brutal, in its treatment of the females involved. They are literally turned into pieces of meat, in much of this “style” of porn (and again, this is today considered just “mainstream” hardcore stuff, not anything that is way “out there” or “fetishist” ). They are spat upon, written upon, brutally … gang-raped … for lack of other better or truer words, viciously cursed at and reviled during the acts, their heads are even sometimes “flushed” down toilets at the end. It’s no longer sex on film, in so many cases nowadays; it’s more like a legal consensual *sexual assault-and-battery * on film. And the girl , probably already a survivor of past abuse, as someone else here rightly noted, probably doing it to support a drug habit in many cases, walks, wobbly-legged off of the set, with maybe a thousand dollars or so, at most, having made a mistake she will never forget, which will further traumatize her mind, and which has been recorded and is now being sold in adult video stores around the country, and on the world wide Internet.

There are things that you see that sort of “tattoo” themselves onto your memory. I have had bad experiences, especially lately, with this type of porn. This type of porn upsets me and is what makes me want to quit, quite frankly. I remember once, not long ago, sitting in the dim light of a “movie viewing booth” at an adult bookstore, and actually crying to myself, following something I had just seen on the screen. The “director”, a vile cruel-mouthed little sadist , after the girl has just been horribly thoroughly degraded (and she’s all of 19, 20 ; she should be away at college) , he says to her, “What if your parents could see you now, dummy ?? You sure make them proud.” And she says nothing. And he presses her further before turning the camera off, he says, " Do you think you made a mistake??" And she is about to cry, you can tell, but she doesn’t say anything. He probes still further, saying, "I want you to think about the worst day of your life. " She sits there, looking teary-eyed, as I said. "What was it? " he asks her. Her simple response, as she actually began to cry on film, was what finally cut to the core of me, and made me think My God what have I become looking at this, I’ve got to get away from this stuff. “Today,” she said. That was it. The director laughed and as she got up to leave he said, “Wait, don’t you want to stop and give all these guys hugs and stuff??” And they all, all the guys, just stood there and laughed, shaking their heads at her. It was truly foul. Vile.

So I think, after having shared, or probably rather “overshared” that invaluable “nugget” of very personal experience with you all, I will seriously consider going to that meeting this Wednesday night. The first one is always the hardest one to get to, they say.

Peace. TBQ
 
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TheBigQ:
So I think, after having shared, or probably rather “overshared” that invaluable “nugget” of very personal experience with you all, I will seriously consider going to that meeting this Wednesday night. The first one is always the hardest one to get to, they say.

Peace. TBQ
Well good for you, I had a feeling that this was your last desperate attempt to justify an act you know in your heart to be wrong.

I have an addicts personality, I have had experience with drug and alcohol abuse, so I know I’ve spent years raionalizing with myelf why drinking to the point of inebriation 4 times weekly is fine. I would tell myself I hold down a good job, a family, it’s my one pleasure in life, etc…

But in reality I got myself to the point where I would drink 20 beers and a bottle of whiskey and be essentially sober. Then I got to the point where I would get stinking drunk very quickly, and nasty not remember anything, embarass myself. I recently said you know what you’re an alcoholic get a grip and take care of yourself. (not that I haven’t slipped I have)

Getting angry and trying to rationalize the sin is typical but it’s typically the last stage before you give it up for good, as they say admitting you have the problem is the first step.

Good luck, it’s not an impossible road by any means and not one no one else has walked be it drugs, alcohol, violence, pornography. It’s all beatable by the Grace God gives us.

God Bless!
 
. To “Sir Knight” : If I’m potentially going to “hell” for the “mortal sin” of masturbating to and/ or enjoying legitimate adult pornography then surely I’ll have *gaggles *of Roman Catholics and RC priests, cardinals, monsignors, bishops, even former popes I’m sure, down there with me to officiate at our boring weekly Masses every Sunday. I’m sure I’ll meet alot of these “Opus Dei”-type Catholics and alot of the hierarchy they’re so subservient to, all adorned in their gold and jewels of course. The “born-again” Catholic-hating Evangelicals and other Protestants, with their “King James” versions in tow, spewing hatred through hands clenched in prayer. The Muslim “extremists” and terrorists, toting rifles that only shoot blanks down there. The Jewish extremists and militant Zionist “settlers” hollering about the “coming of the Moshiach” and their own “Chosenness”. Talk about “hell”. We’re already *in it !! Look around you. Read a paper. Look at what’s going on in the world, in this world, in the Middle East , the land where not only Jesus but the whole current Western idea of God was born *! I have come to the conclusion, long ago actually, that no deceased Jewish preacher is ever coming back from the dead “in glory to judge” any of us. We have to make our own way in this world, of that I’m convinced, and we only live but once, and ever so briefly at that.
Run! Don’t walk…YOU NEED HELP NOW!!! I will pray for you. I’m sure everyone here is praying for you. God loves you even if you choose not to love Him. If you don’t get help and change your attitude, he’ll miss you…for eternity!
 
Well, I’m glad you are reconsidering. No one is trying to be judgemental here. Yes, most here are devoutly Catholic, and we have a lot of trust and faith in our church. So when someone comes on the forum here and proudly admits to something that in our faith is considered mortally sinful, we become concerned for your soul and try to get you to see reason from our point of view. Perhaps you think we are extreme, but…it is a mortal sin in the eyes of the church, for anyone, priest or layperson. And some people will feel compelled to try to pull you away from that sin. Being addicted to anything is not healthy, especially pornagraphy. And after the story you told, we know that you know that it isn’t all ok, and it can lead to serious evil and harm.

I’m glad that you’re considering getting some help. My best to you. May I suggest reading up on the church a bit as well? Your past few posts suggest a lack of real understanding of some of the doctrines of the church. (which most of us have been there at some point!) Maybe spend a little time on the CA library pages, they’re a great source of information.

Anyway, God bless.
 
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TheBigQ:
I think more priests need to begin to think about “helping” themselves, so that they could clear their minds a bit, and I would bet we would see a marked decrease in abuse scandals in the Catholic church.
QUOTE]
No. So “masturbating priests” would make better priests? Don’t you think that this woyuld lead to only more sensual enjoyment…I don’t see the logic?
 
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TheBigQ:
I do agree w/you all that porn is basically a bad thing. I don’t, I didn’t mean to come across as though I was glibly defending it yesterday, although that’s maybe how I did come across. I apologize.

There are things that you see that sort of “tattoo” themselves onto your memory.

So I think, after having shared, or probably rather “overshared” that invaluable “nugget” of very personal experience with you all, I will seriously consider going to that meeting this Wednesday night. The first one is always the hardest one to get to, they say.

Peace. TBQ
I am praising God on your behalf right now, TBQ!!! You are right–these things are so pervasive in our culture. You are also right that they are addictive in that you need more to get the same “fix” and that they burn unwanted images into your mind. The “old fashioned” term for the “m” word years ago was “self abuse”. I think that is why. When we allow ourselves to view this type of thing, we actually abuse ourselves and cause negative flashbacks that can haunt us when trying to be legitimately intimate in the future.

God is there at all times to help us. As someone else said, different people find kicking this habit either fairly easy or very difficult. Keep turning back to God and asking Him for help. Heck, you shared so much with us–now share with Him and ask Him to help you in your struggle.
:blessyou:
 
Sir Knight:
I am not here to judge anyone but since you brought it up, let’s look at some facts as taught by our faith.

To be repentant of a sin, one must make an honest effort not to engage in that activity. Which, by what I am reading, you have not fully committed to doing and therefore your repenatnace can not be considered full/honest.

If one were to die with an unrepentant mortal sin on their soul, they are forever lost to the fires of hell. You say that “it is a sacry thought that not masterbating would potentially be dangerous”. Ask yourself what is more ‘scary’? That? Or, forever being lost to the fires of hell?

May I suggest you get a copy of the lives of the saints which contains descriptions of hell and purgatory. Read those passages carefully. Think about what eternity means and ask yourself the above question again as to what is more scarier?

If you are masterbating because you’ve developed a sinful habit and are having a hard time stopping and HONESTLY want to stop, then each trip to confession wipes you clean. If not, then each trip to confession does nothing and your mortal sins remain.
I really don’t appreciate your hostility.
 
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BlestOne:
The Big Q:
One does not die from lack of orgasm or ejaculation. My husband and I dated for 6 years and we were chaste before marriage. Truly, it won’t hurt you one bit! We spent the times when we really felt tempted in prayer. Our wedding night was very special because we both knew we had sacrificed to get there. No, it isn’t always easy, but we are humans not animals and we have control over “urges” We are not animals, we have coping skills, and when we do not give in to temptation, it is pleasing to God. If you feel you are a sex addict, porn addict or any other addict, I strongly urge you to seek counselling, it is not normal nor is it moral or pleasing to God. As for you not “feeling” like it is a mortal sin…We do not individually decide what is and isn’t sin.

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God!
that is really inspiring. So both you and your husband were chaste in every way including not masterbating for that long? Well, if like you said, there was no damge or anything and it only benefited you both, then I’ll use that as an inspiration to contine to refrain from masterbating. Since I’ve made the decison to try and stop I went a record amunt of days without mastebating before failing recently. However, records end only to be broken again. I think you answered or at least provided an example that would disprove the one fear I have in reagrds to not masterbating for a long time since I don’t plan on meeting someone to marry anytime soon since I have to finish school first.
 
wjp, you should know, there is no scientific or medical evidence to show that not masturbating is dangerous. There are many who have quit, many others who have never masturbated in their life (me included), etc., I’ve never heard of them suffering any negative consequences.

Sir Knight is just trying to point out to you how small your unfounded fear is compared to something which you really should be afraid about. He’s not trying to be hostile.

Fear can be a hard thing to get over. You need to tackle your fear with some solid reason. Talk to a medical expert if it will help, ask him if there would be any negative consequences of not masturbating. Sounds like once you get over your fear it will be a lot easier to get over your addiction. Good luck.
 
“Since I’ve made the decison to try and stop I went a record amunt of days without mastebating before failing recently. However, records end only to be broken again.”

You keep on breaking records, wjp, and one of these days you’ll find you made it all the to the end of your life before slipping!

I’ll be praying for you and the Q-man.
 
TheBigQ,
I do agree w/you all that porn is basically a bad thing. I don’t, I didn’t mean to come across as though I was glibly defending it yesterday, although that’s maybe how I did come across. I apologize.
I’m very thankful to see you write this, if only because it’s impossible to remedy a situation if one is totally unwilling to recognize there is a problem. As the late Fr.Seraphim (Rose) of Platina once counseled, denial in such matters is the real dead end. He said even if you think (however wrongly) that you “must” sin, never fall into the trap of denying that it is a sin. Fr.Seraphim (who was a Priest-Monk, and believed by many to have been a living Saint) understood this topic well, as he himself had only become an Orthodox Christian as an adult, and previously had his own profound struggles with sexual sins.
And I have seen, over the 15 or so years during which I have used pornography that is generally considered to be “mainstream” and can be purchased at any adult bookstore for example, the “tenor” of the porn getting more and more debased, and much more cruel , even brutal, in its treatment of the females involved. …
What you write here is unfortunately correct. Like many young men, I’ve had my own battles with this. It’s as real an addiction as any form of alcohol or drug abuse. It escalates in the same way. And it is a depressingly common addiction, precisely because few take it seriously or will talk about it candidly and openly.
So I think, after having shared, or probably rather “overshared” that invaluable “nugget” of very personal experience with you all, I will seriously consider going to that meeting this Wednesday night. The first one is always the hardest one to get to, they say.
Please do get help. One of the biggest problems in overcoming any kind of addiction, is a lack of support and accountability - no man is an island unto himself. Even if we truly want to overcome an addiction, it’s very very difficult to do this by one’s self - I’d say for most people, it’s probably impossible.
 
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wjp984:
I really don’t appreciate your hostility.
I wasn’t trying to be hostile. If it came across that way, I apologize. I was trying to put things in perspective for you out of CONCERN for YOUR soul.
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Flopfoot:
Sir Knight is just trying to point out to you how small your unfounded fear is compared to something which you really should be afraid about. He’s not trying to be hostile.
Exactly.
 
No need to avoid saying what it is- Is it ok for priests to masturbate? The answer- no. You won’t go crazy if you don’t.
 
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m134e5:
No need to avoid saying what it is- Is it ok for priests to masturbate? The answer- no. You won’t go crazy if you don’t.
This doesn’t only apply to priests. Masturbation is a mortal sin for everyone. Period.
 
I rarely read every post in a topic this long, but I did this time.

With the exception of Ana’s posts and the responses to her story, it’s a criminal shame that this topic was hijacked by one very sick puppy.
 
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LeahInancsi:
I rarely read every post in a topic this long, but I did this time.

With the exception of Ana’s posts and the responses to her story, it’s a criminal shame that this topic was hijacked by one very sick puppy.
Are you sure you read every post???

Notworthy
 
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LeahInancsi:
With the exception of Ana’s posts and the responses to her story, it’s a criminal shame that this topic was hijacked by one very sick puppy.
Since he was the originator, he took his own topic in the direction that he wanted.
 
Sir Knight:
Since he was the originator, he took his own topic in the direction that he wanted.
Oppppppppps!!! Never mind. :eek: :o :o :o

I thought I checked to see who the originator was.

He’s still a very sick puppy.
 
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LeahInancsi:
He’s still a very sick puppy.
I wonder if that has anything to do with the whole “Spiritual, but Not Religious” nonsense. :hmmm:
 
Am I missing something here?
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TheBigQ:
So I think, after having shared, or probably rather “overshared” that invaluable “nugget” of very personal experience with you all, I will seriously consider going to that meeting this Wednesday night. The first one is always the hardest one to get to, they say.

Peace. TBQ
Why are you still chastising him?

TBQ, did you attend your meeting?

Notworthy
 
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