circumcision & Catholic teaching ?

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LOL! Well, I guess this is perfect example of why males should have a say so on this issue.

Although the only ones that I think can really compare a before and after circumcision are the ones who did this when they were already adults (i.e., once they have begun to be sexually active). I am sure the hygiene would be the same (i.e, just make sure you clean well). 😃
Sadly, I will never have that choice.
 
I’m a man, I’ll chime in here.

I think circumcision is opposed to Church teaching. It is immoral to deliberately amputate a part of the body for a merely aesthetic purpose and without a valid medical reason. Unless, the circumcision is being done for a medical purpose, it should be avoided.

I think some here may fall into the trap of seeing this as a common, accepted and therefore moral act. The same reasoning can be applied to female circumcision. Would those of you who support male circumcision for aesthetic purposes also female circumcision? How do you make a distinction? If you accept one as moral, you have to accept the other as moral. Yet, one seems acceptable and the other repugnant.

Unless the parents have a legitimate medical reason to do this to their child they are acting immorally.
 
I’m a man, I’ll chime in here.

I think circumcision is opposed to Church teaching. It is immoral to deliberately amputate a part of the body for a merely aesthetic purpose and without a valid medical reason. Unless, the circumcision is being done for a medical purpose, it should be avoided.

I think some here may fall into the trap of seeing this as a common, accepted and therefore moral act. The same reasoning can be applied to female circumcision. Would those of you who support male circumcision for aesthetic purposes also female circumcision? How do you make a distinction? If you accept one as moral, you have to accept the other as moral. Yet, one seems acceptable and the other repugnant.

Unless the parents have a legitimate medical reason to do this to their child they are acting immorally.
If its as immoral female circumcison, then why didn’t the Church condem male circumcision when they said female circumcision was a horrible thing? I am curious too, that if it was indeed wrong why did the Church and still does especially traditional and orthodox still celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision.
 
I’m a man, I’ll chime in here.

I think circumcision is opposed to Church teaching. It is immoral to deliberately amputate a part of the body for a merely aesthetic purpose and without a valid medical reason. Unless, the circumcision is being done for a medical purpose, it should be avoided.

I think some here may fall into the trap of seeing this as a common, accepted and therefore moral act. The same reasoning can be applied to female circumcision. Would those of you who support male circumcision for aesthetic purposes also female circumcision? How do you make a distinction? If you accept one as moral, you have to accept the other as moral. Yet, one seems acceptable and the other repugnant.

Unless the parents have a legitimate medical reason to do this to their child they are acting immorally.
Maybe I am misreading this post, but it seems that you are assuming that everyone who has his/her son circ’d does so for cosmetic purposes. While it has been years since I’ve done this type of research and don’t intend to do so again unless we find ourselves pregnant again, I can assure you that we decided in favor of circumcision because of the medical reasons. I have found no teaching from the Church that does not allow me this decision.
 
Maybe I am misreading this post, but it seems that you are assuming that everyone who has his/her son circ’d does so for cosmetic purposes. While it has been years since I’ve done this type of research and don’t intend to do so again unless we find ourselves pregnant again, I can assure you that we decided in favor of circumcision because of the medical reasons. I have found no teaching from the Church that does not allow me this decision.
Certainly, circumcision for a medical purpose would be moral. It would be a prudential decision as to whether the risks of the circumcision outweigh the health benefits. It is when such a procedure is done for aesthetic or preferential reasons that the act is immoral.
 
If its as immoral female circumcison, then why didn’t the Church condem male circumcision when they said female circumcision was a horrible thing? I am curious too, that if it was indeed wrong why did the Church and still does especially traditional and orthodox still celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision.
Do you have a reference for this?

Also, the circumcision was important in the Jewish faith. It is not necessary in the Christian faith.
 
Wow I had no idea this thread was so long!:bigyikes: I’m jumping in really late and I’ll have to go back and read a lot of pages.

All three of our sons were circ’d just like their father. I left the decision up to him because only he would know what the results of a circ would feel like, not me. We did it mostly for hygiene reasons, but also so they wouldn’t get picked on in the showers at school. We also find a circ’d penis more aesthetically appealing, to be honest.

So here we are 18 and 15 years down the road for the oldest two. They have told us thank God we got them circ’d because uncirc’d boys do still get picked on in this day and age, when we’re all supposed to be a little more evolved socially than we were 20 years ago. That hasn’t changed! My kids say they are really glad we did it, especially now that both of their uncirc’d grandpas are in and out of the hospital with penile infections due to not being circ’d. This I know because its what the doctors have told them. Old guys sometimes can’t take care and clean properly anymore and it does indeed lead to serious problems and pain. My FIL has suffered for nearly a year with a catheter and bag and numerous medications, unable to eat anything green on one of the meds, has leg trouble and is noticeably depressed from the whole ordeal. He can’t walk right with that darned catheter, and we hate seeing the change in his usually upbeat personality. Its a nightmare for him, when you add all that to his heart problems.We’re afraid he will eventually give up living.😦

I think its a personal choice and there is no ‘right’ way except for what you choose is right for your boys.
 
I don’t think there are any significant health benefits. If there was you’d be seeing a big difference in the health ect. of American men vs men in Australia or the UK.
being teased ???
i got teased because of being short. doesn’t mean that all short people should have their legs broken & stretched to make them taller.
 
We also find a circ’d penis more aesthetically appealing, to be honest.
Sorry but I find this line very weird and kind of disturbing.

So, is it okay for parents to circumcise their little girls? After all, they might find it more “aesthetically appealing.”

What about parents who find breast implants more “aesthetically appealing”? Can they take their 15 year old daughters in for breast augmentations?

Why can’t these other minor alterations be done by the parents?
 
Wow I had no idea this thread was so long!:bigyikes: I’m jumping in really late and I’ll have to go back and read a lot of pages.

All three of our sons were circ’d just like their father. I left the decision up to him because only he would know what the results of a circ would feel like, not me. We did it mostly for hygiene reasons, but also so they wouldn’t get picked on in the showers at school. We also find a circ’d penis more aesthetically appealing, to be honest.

So here we are 18 and 15 years down the road for the oldest two. They have told us thank God we got them circ’d because uncirc’d boys do still get picked on in this day and age, when we’re all supposed to be a little more evolved socially than we were 20 years ago. That hasn’t changed! My kids say they are really glad we did it, especially now that both of their uncirc’d grandpas are in and out of the hospital with penile infections due to not being circ’d. This I know because its what the doctors have told them. Old guys sometimes can’t take care and clean properly anymore and it does indeed lead to serious problems and pain. My FIL has suffered for nearly a year with a catheter and bag and numerous medications, unable to eat anything green on one of the meds, has leg trouble and is noticeably depressed from the whole ordeal. He can’t walk right with that darned catheter, and we hate seeing the change in his usually upbeat personality. Its a nightmare for him, when you add all that to his heart problems.We’re afraid he will eventually give up living.😦

I think its a personal choice and there is no ‘right’ way except for what you choose is right for your boys.
This is off topic a little, but can’t your fathers be circ’d now?
 
Sorry but I find this line very weird and kind of disturbing.

So, is it okay for parents to circumcise their little girls? After all, they might find it more “aesthetically appealing.”

What about parents who find breast implants more “aesthetically appealing”? Can they take their 15 year old daughters in for breast augmentations?

Why can’t these other minor alterations be done by the parents?
I saw many reasons listed in her post. I don’t see why anyone should condemn this family for making a decision on many levels. She didn’t say that the only reason was for looks. As a wife of a circ’d man, I have only seen pics of uncirc, and I would agree. It is all I know. But that alone would never determine for me having the procedure done on my child. And neither did it for this poster.

I have found no research showing benefits to female circ nor breast implants, so these 2 points you make are unrelated. Going with the breast implants, though, if my 15yo did have to have a breast removed for some reason, I would allow her to have an implant done, just as I would consider in the same situation for myself.
 
I gave several reasons for why we had our boys circ’d. Quite frankly YOU don’t have to approve of them. Your questions to me about doing the same to girls, or surgically altering their breasts, frankly makes no sense at all so that’s totaly irrelevant. Its just used for shock value.

I gave real reasons why in older men being uncirc’d does cause a problem.

Yeah… I can just see it. My FIL and dad with all their health problems NOW, going through a circumcision. That’s just not going to happen. :dts: They could die for crying out loud.
 
We also find a circ’d penis more aesthetically appealing, to be honest.
I cetainly hope women aren’t picking their husbands based off this.
So here we are 18 and 15 years down the road for the oldest two. They have told us thank God we got them circ’d because uncirc’d boys do still get picked on in this day and age, when we’re all supposed to be a little more evolved socially than we were 20 years ago. That hasn’t changed!
Getting picked on? This is another reason not to do it. Instead of falling in place with doing what everyone else does, why not teach our children to be proud of who they are and that it’s the quality of the person that counts. Not what they wear, whether their short or tall, or circumsized or not.
 
I gave several reasons for why we had our boys circ’d. Quite frankly YOU don’t have to approve of them. Your questions to me about doing the same to girls, or surgically altering their breasts, frankly makes no sense at all so that’s totaly irrelevant. Its just used for shock value.

I gave real reasons why in older men being uncirc’d does cause a problem.

Yeah… I can just see it. My FIL and dad with all their health problems NOW, going through a circumcision. That’s just not going to happen. :dts: They could die for crying out loud.
The point in bringing up the examples of female circumcision and breast augmentation was to highlight the fact that, if we decide that circumcision is moral for aesthetic purposes, then we have to allow other things that seem “shocking” as moral as well. To me that seems problematic. They are acts of the same type and violate the teaching of the Church.

As I mentioned earlier, one can make a case for the morality of circumcision for a medical reason, just like one could make a case for female circumcision or breast augmentation (although admittedly the case would probably be far more narrow).

I am not writing to give my approval, nor does my approval matter. What matters is the teaching of the Church and according to that teaching, circumcision (along with any other type of amputation) when done WITHOUT a medical reason is immoral. IF the act is done for a prudent medical reason, then the act is moral.
 
I have found no research showing benefits to female circ nor breast implants, so these 2 points you make are unrelated. Going with the breast implants, though, if my 15yo did have to have a breast removed for some reason, I would allow her to have an implant done, just as I would consider in the same situation for myself.
Yes, that is EXACTLY my point. What makes these two acts nearly always immoral is that there does not seem to be a medical case to perform them. In the example you give of breast implants, those would be instances of doing it for medical and restorative purposes NOT cosmetic or aesthetic purposes. In the same way, if circumcision is chosen for a non-medical reason, it becomes an act of the same type as the 2 above, an immoral one.
 
I am not writing to give my approval, nor does my approval matter. What matters is the teaching of the Church and according to that teaching, circumcision (along with any other type of amputation) when done WITHOUT a medical reason is immoral. IF the act is done for a prudent medical reason, then the act is moral.
This is untrue. First, your assertion that the procedure is an amputation is not proven, secondly male circumcision for cultural reasons is licit.

In all these threads no one has proven the Church teaches it is forbidden for medical or cultural reason, in fact, the evidence is it is morally neutral. It is a prudential judgment.
 
This is untrue. First, your assertion that the procedure is an amputation is not proven, secondly male circumcision for cultural reasons is licit.

In all these threads no one has proven the Church teaches it is forbidden for medical or cultural reason, in fact, the evidence is it is morally neutral. It is a prudential judgment.
If it is not amputation or “partial” amputation, then what is it? According to all the definitions of the word that I have seen removing part of an organ would be considered partial amputation. Amputation is only moral for a medical reason. (CC 2297).

The prudential judgement is whether *medical *reasons justify the risks not cultural.

If we take your idea that it is moral for cultural reasons, then why wouldn’t female circumcision be moral for cultural reasons as well?
 
Hi, I’m new to these threads but have been lurking for some time.

Wasn’t this thread called “circumcision and Catholic teaching?”

As far as I know the Catholic church allows each parent to make their own choice in this??

They are not supposed to do it for religious reasons though since baptisim took the place of circing for religious reasons.

So anything else would be just personal feelings of each poster, right? But as far as official Catholic teachings, the church still leaves this up to the parents, so Catholic parents need not worry that they have done anything against the Catholic church, right?

I mean, this is about personal feelings now?

I’m very confused, this is a crazy thread
 
Hi, I’m new to these threads but have been lurking for some time.
Hello and welcome!
Wasn’t this thread called “circumcision and Catholic teaching?”
As far as I know the Catholic church allows each parent to make their own choice in this??
They are not supposed to do it for religious reasons though since baptisim took the place of circing for religious reasons.
So anything else would be just personal feelings of each poster, right? But as far as official Catholic teachings, the church still leaves this up to the parents, so Catholic parents need not worry that they have done anything against the Catholic church, right?
I mean, this is about personal feelings now?
I’m very confused, this is a crazy thread
You’re right. Here’s the link from a CA Apologist.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=127812&referrerid=57499
Circumcision was established by God and practiced by God’s people in obedience to him for thousands of years until it was superceded by baptism. Given that, we must assume that God would not establish a ritual for his people that can be considered deliberate mutilation and thus intrinsically immoral.
Even so, parents who object to non-therapeutic circumcision have the right to refuse to circumcise their sons as a matter of conscience. They should, however, take care not to make their arguments against circumcision in such ways that it casts aspersion on the legitimate choice of other parents to circumcise.
I think that makes it pretty clear that it is up to the parents and others should not be judging them.
 
I think that makes it pretty clear that it is up to the parents and others should not be judging them.
I for one am not judging anyone, however, I think it is important to talk about the reasons people do things.

Many of the reasons listed so far, just aren’t warranted. The only reasons so far that warrants discussion are the health cleanliness reasons. I’m sorry, but to do this just so he can look like dad or because someone thinks it is more pleasing to the eye is just downright wrong.

Regarding cleanliness, teach your boys to clean themselves the correct way and to not be lazy while in the shower and you wont have any problems. As far health reasons, there just isn’t enough evidence to show there are any concerns. Heck, most circumsized men will develop prostate cancer anyway if they live long enough. And the cases where health problems do arise are rare.

Bottomline, the foreskin was put there for a reason, leave it alone. Sheesh, pleasing to the eye. Don’t they all look alike once erect anyway. Isn’t that when they should be pleasing to the wife’s eye. And one other thing ladies, no offense, but why should you get to decide? Do your husbands tell you what kind of feminine products you should buy for your teen daughter when she hit’s puberty?
 
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