Catholic Sex and Masterbation

[marybee]

I didn’t read every page in this thread, so I don’t know if my point has already been brought up. I wouldn’t worry about finding it in the Bible in order to validate the teaching, we aren’t protestants here. Below is what the Catechism has to say about masturbation.

Rome has spoken, case closed.

First of all-all of our catechism and doctrine is based on scripture, if it contradicted scripture I would not believe it. Secondly just because “Rome has spoken” doesn’t mean we cant have and adult conversation about it. So we must just follow blindly? God DID give us a mind to use, we don’t just simply follow orders without thinking…We call other religions that do that “cults”.

 

[BlazingBolt]

I agrea with no sex before marriage, But not no masturbating, Why not? If you dont the sperm cells die anyway so why not enjoy it? I admit i do it as i know god would want us to be happy and our sperm cells will die anyway.

You simply can not masturbate with out committing the sin of lust. Please don’t fool yourself in to thinking you can. Lust is clearly and unquestionably condemned as sinful. So regardless of the other valid arguments that it is a sin, there is no getting around the lust factor.

Take this sin seriously. It is an addiction and it affects the way you think about sex in general and how you view the opposite sex how you behave toward them. Having formerly struggled with this sin I can tell you that overcoming it gives you a great sense of freedom and has enormous benefits spiritually that will show up in what type of person you are, how you think, how you behave, and how you treat others.

 

[SumEns]

Two things. First with respect to masturbation. Many of the posters here are correct given this act is not UNITIVE and procreative. Others are correct in many of the things they have said. However, there is one thing I have not yet seen mentioned (hinted at maybe). This being Natural Law. This is the basis for Catholic morality. The fundamental point is simple: all things have a natural end. That is, there is something that they are supposed to do and to stunt this end is to be immoral. In the case of masturbation, the purpose of sperm is to unite with an egg and create new life. If you masturbate you are a barrier to that end, and are thus acting immoraly. Part of the reason masturbation is wrong is the same as why contraceptives are wrong. They all deny sperm its natural end.

Second, with respect to wet dreams. Masturbation is an act of the will aimed at deriving pleasure from the aformenioned act, and is immoral given the reasons above and reasons mentioned by other posters. A wet dream is an act of Biology. Your body does what it does. There is no act of the will aimed at pleasure, and thus the act is not moral or immoral, it is amoral, because it is biological.

Hope this helps.

 

[outfctrl]

the purpose of sperm is to unite with an egg and create new life. If you masturbate you are a barrier to that end, and are thus acting immoraly. Part of the reason masturbation is wrong is the same as why contraceptives are wrong. They all deny sperm its natural end.

I agree 100%. I have already committed myself to chastity.
Lets examine that statement though.
A single male that had a vasectomy would not fall under the above statement.

This situation would only fall under the immoral category which is a sin.
No Spouse
No sperm

 

[SumEns]

With respect to a single male who has been ‘fixed’, we have another set of criteria that is applied (it also applies in all other circumstances, but here we can look at just this). This is where the comments of the other posters hold more weight. So, in your scenario we do not have a immoral act via natural law, but it is still immoral. Part of being Catholic is to cultivate the proper habits such that we live in communion with God’s law. For example, Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount, that we commit adultery even if we do not do the physcial act. All we need to do is lust after it in our mind to have commited the sin. Treating like situations alike, we see that the single male who has been fixed is lusting after the pleasure offered by masturbation, rather than seeking a life in accordance with God’s will. He has sinned in his heart against God because this single fixed man is holding natural pleasure via masturbation over and above God. Thus it is still immoral.

 

[ltbpoe43]

To the OP - devil logic!! The “be happy” it “feels good” syndrome has taken hold of your senses man - snap out of it.

Yes, God wants you to be happy according to His word and although you have the free will to be unpure with yourself, you also have the will to follow His word according to being pure and chaste in both the single and married vocations. The body is a great gift to be respected and used properly.

Is it difficult to be pure and chaste, yes.
Will we fall, yes.
Can we be forgiven for it, of course. If we truly repent and try to avoid temptation.

Pray on this often and don’t let those hormones (and or devil logic) lead you to sin. Be strong in your faith and resolve. Good luck.

 

[Julian_Peters]

Thank you to all who have participated. This thread is now closed.