Ejaculation frequency linked to prostate cancer/

[contemplative]

Quote:
Originally Posted by urban-hermit
I think it’s wise not to believe any single website or “study” too quickly. There are a lot of variables and risk factors for cancer.

I found some interesting studies on the web that suggest Catholic priests actually have had a same to lower incidence of prostate cancer than the general male population:

I read this article on the Courage website.

Pastoral Problem of Masturbation

tuopaolo:

Before I read it, could you let me know if it just applies or is focused towards homosexuals (being from the Courage website)?

urban-hermit is suggesting that celibate priests have less a problem with prostate cancer. I am suggesting that maybe priests don’t have much of problem with cancer because of what this article says about priests. No - the focus of the article is not on homosexuality but rather the pastoral problem of masturbation.

 

[SpiritIsWilling]

vluvski:

On the other hand, Church reports indicate that masturbation increases the risk of going to Hell. Which is worse, prostate cancer or Hell? Which source do you trust more, newscientist.com, or Holy Mother Church?

I like that response very much

I think that masturbation now being accepted by scientists as well as being made light of by just about the whole world will have an effect on people. Even Catholics who are caught in a moment of weakness might have the thought creep into their head and fall.

 

[cheddarsox]

SpiritIsWilling:

I think that masturbation now being accepted by scientists as well as being made light of by just about the whole world will have an effect on people. Even Catholics who are caught in a moment of weakness might have the thought creep into their head and fall.

What does “masturbation now being accepted by scientists” mean?

Science studies things we observe, masturbation occurs, it is observed, I don’t think science ever “denied” it and now “accepts” it. Science is not a moral teacher. It just investigates what is, and points out the patterns that are recognizable.

If scientists notice that there are certain health patterns associated with masturbation, and state those patterns,they are not “endorsing” masturbation, they are presenting information. It is up to people to use all the resources at hand to make good decisions for themselves.

Also, and people tend to forget this, science is dynamic. It is always changing based on new information that is discovered and new patterns that get noticed. In the end, people need to use their own judgement and discernment and make decisions for themselves.

Science is not a religion, unless a particular person chooses to make it one in their lives. No one is forced to accept and act on every single thing some scientist somewhere has proposed a theory on. The media tends to pick out interesting tidbits and contraversial tidbits and publish them using mass media because it sells papers, advertising time etc.

They completely ignore 99.99999% of scientific discovery which is published in journals and discussed and debated by scientists. It is NEVER wise to take the sound bites we hear on the news, or the 500 word article in the Thursday paper as “what the entire institution of all scientists believes and endorses”.

The media feeds you what will sell papers. If you want to know what the actual current status of any theory is, you must do some investigating on your own.

cheddar

 

[urban-hermit]

JSmitty2005:

From what I understand, animals are subject to nature and the Natural Law.

No - this is a widespread misunderstanding.

As tuopaolo has mentioned, the “Natural” in “Natural Law” - as the Church uses the term - refers to man’s nature as a rational creature. No other animal is a rational creature.

As Catholics it’s important for us to understand what is meant when our Church uses this term.

Natural Law (from the Catholic Encyclopedia) :
In English this term is frequently employed as equivalent to the laws of nature, meaning the order which governs the activities of the material universe. . . . In its strictly ethical application–the sense in which this article treats it–the natural law is the rule of conduct which is prescribed to us by the Creator in the constitution of the nature with which He has endowed us.

According to St. Thomas, the natural law is “nothing else than the rational creature’s participation in the eternal law” (I-II, Q. xciv). The eternal law is God’s wisdom, …

 

[urban-hermit]

urban-hermit is suggesting that celibate priests have less a problem with prostate cancer. I am suggesting that maybe priests don’t have much of problem with cancer because of what this article says about priests.

First, the studies I referred to did not only survey priests who were “celibate”. They analyzed the statistics for ALL men who were signed up as priests - the good, the bad, and the ugly (no offense) - and still came up with favorable numbers.

Second, did you get the impression from the article you gave the link to that masturbation is as common among priests and religious as the general public ?

The article, unless I missed something, does not say that priests masturbate as much as anybody else. It simply admits that some priests and religious do struggle with this humiliating vice, and discusses the problems in formation and theology, as well as emotional and psychological situations, that can lead to it.

Most all of our priests are awesome. Let’s remember to pray for them all .

 

[urban-hermit]

MikeinSD:

I think it would be interesting to conduct a poll among the male posters here. Who has ever stimulated himself? And how often? But that would strike just a little too close to home. And asking devouts to think about their own sins never gets a good response.

Asking ANY human to think about their own sins is unlikely to get a good response.

I am interested in this thread because I do not want anybody to believe that we need to masturbate for good health or any other reason. As Fr Corapi says, nobody has to sin. As Mother Angelica once said “all sin can be overcome by His grace.” And I believe medical & scientific evidence will prove (if it hasn’t already) that masturbation is not good for humans. By the grace of our merciful God and Father, I am at the point where I believe this without any doubt whatsoever. Unfortunately, most people quote Madonna on this subject more than they do Pope John Paul II (although JP2 was pretty cool and does seem to have a following … when did a MILLION people ever show up to see Madonna? – Plus, she’s yesterday’s mashed potatoes at 45 while our beloved pope was a superstar into his 80’s! )

Is perfecting any virtue easy? No. Is it worth trying? Yes. Are there strategies and disciplines that can be learned to make it easier? Yes. I have learned some of them from my Catholic faith and I have seen an improvement in my own life. The culture wants you to think it’s not worth trying to be chaste. But impurity retards our progress towards God. If somebody is “devout” (devoted) toward God, he naturally wants to learn how to overcome obstacles and get closer.
dads.org/
catholic.com/chastity.asp
pureloveclub.com/

 

[Pug]

Ejaculation frequency is not the same thing as masturbation. If it is married men who are the bulk of frequent ejaculators, then that paints a different picture. Perhaps then it is an underlying factor causing both effects. One needs to see the original study to know what possibilities are controlled.

Also, this could be like eating chocolate for your health. Sure there may be some chemical in there somewhere that increases one aspect of your health, but the overall effect could be negative.

I mean, it could go that I am less likely to die of prostate cancer, but I am five times as likely to develop a chemical addiction and lead a miserable life. That’s just a hypothetical to explain what I mean.

 

[ThyKingdomCome]

Pug:

Ejaculation frequency is not the same thing as masturbation. If it is married men who are the bulk of frequent ejaculators, then that paints a different picture. Perhaps then it is an underlying factor causing both effects. One needs to see the original study to know what possibilities are controlled.

Yes. Perhaps the “bulk of frequent ejaculators” (if they are married men) are also more likely to receive good preventive medical care than single men, because of social circumstances (like wives who make them go to the doctor, or being motivated to stay healthy for children and grandchildren). And perhaps married people are, because of their lifestyles, sexual activity, etc., more likely to be aware of their reproductive health. Married women might be more likely to do monthly breast exams than nuns. Etc, Etc. There could be many factors.

 

[spotty]

masturbation is not a natural urge. its lust. a rejection of the natural image and likeness of which we were created.

the sad thing is that most people are a slave to their passions and rather than overcome an obstacle blocking one from God, they would have you believe that there really is no obstacle.

anyone still having problems understanding or accepting (two completely different things) why masturbation is evil, i suggest reading christopher west’s theology of the body for beginners. that book is awesome

 

[RichT]

Two things to think about:

1. 
   *]I once had a Urologist who told me that most men who live long enough will get prostate cancer, no matter what you do to prevent it.
   *]There are asian cultures who teach the men to have orgasms without ejaculating as the man’s semen (according to their beliefs) carries the man’s source of energy. Ejaculation allows the energy to escape.
   
   Now, keep in mind, that most asian cultures have the least amount of health problems including cancer. As someone already said, I would not take these studies too seriously.

 

[neophyte]

ESimmons:

This report is about a year old, but I had heard this somewhere and recently was looking into it myself:…Apparently, the more you ejaculate, the less you are at risk for prostate cancer…

COOL! I don’t have the slightest idea if it’s really true, but if it is then it’s more evidence in favor of marrying young and enjoying the rich joys of the chaste marital embrace as frequently as vigorous youth allows!

True or not, I can’t think of any down side to acting as if it is…

 

[captaincatholic]

ESimmons:

I was under the assumption that most if not all of Catholic moral theology was based around life and the preservation of life. Generally speaking, most if not all of the Church’s rules are good for you.

I found scientific research that suggests that it may not be healthy to not ejaculate. I only suggested that if it were, in fact, true, what are the implications of that? Are there other Catholic teachings that go against the general bodily health of its members?

I know it must be hard, but try and refrain from the “Which is worse, prostate cancer or GOING TO HELL?!!” replies. I get the picture.

I am not a man, but I thought that that kind of thing happened when it needed to happen, without prompting…

Also, this is indeed a medical study, but the Church is not “going against the general bodily health of its members”.

There are several ways to look at this. First of all, there are many other kinds of illnesses that may cause suffering and/or death besides prostate cancer. Who is to say that you will not fall to one of them?

Secondly, throughout the millenia, the CHurch has held up for us examples of heroic suffering, even from illnesses. Martyrs like Blessed Gianna Molla (who died from cancer because she refused treatments that would have harmed her unborn child) and St. Damien of the leper colonies are wonderful examples. For many of us, suffering is the only way we pay attention to God. When we are brought low, THAT is when we go to Him, our loving Father.

The answers given you here seem to be pretty sound. Basically, masturbation or any sexual activity outside of marriage is forbidden. Besides, if you make this your apostolate, then you suffer from prostage cancer, maybe after you die you could be canonized and invoked as the patron saint of those who suffer from prostate cancer!

 

[JSmitty2005]

captaincatholic:

Besides, if you make this your apostolate, then you suffer from prostage cancer, maybe after you die you could be canonized and invoked as the patron saint of those who suffer from prostate cancer!

Yeah, you could be the prostate cancer martyr! Seriously.

 

[mgrobertson79]

GOING TO HELL?!!" replies. I get the picture.

We don’t hear enough of this today. Yes there is such a place and if you sin and fail to confess it you will end up there. Plain, Simple and Terrible. It is the result of being born, to parents(Adam & Eve)who loved themselves more than God or us. We will die, just choose which path you want to take. Narrow or Wide?

 

[thomasf]

I have a problem with anyone telling someone else that they’re going to Hell for their actions. You don’t know that, I don’t know that, only God knows that. Uncharitable talk like that brings to mind judgemental christians that give all christians a bad name.

And frankly, I find that this topic in particular brings about a lot of judgement for others. Yes, it’s pretty clear that catholic teachings consider masturbation wrong and a sin. But there is a lot of sins the church teaches about. There are a lot of vices that humans fall prey to. No one is perfect, we are always tempted. Whether it’s by drugs, sex, alcohol, money, whatever. None of us are free from sin, and none of us can cast the first stone.

Mastrubation is something a lot of people struggle with. Especially with the secular viewpoint on the subject, the secular world that pushes pornography and graphic sex, premarital sex, and promotes the act as being healthy. It’s a hard thing for many people to deal with, and frankly I’m one of them. I have my own concerns about the health issues vs the moral issues as well.

When people come to these forums, I don’t think it helps much to respond with the old standard line that it’s a sin, don’t do it. If you do so, your going to hell. Sexual addiction, even to masturbation, is real and many people suffer from it. I doubt many of us would take the same tactic with those who have other addictions that are just as deadly.

None of us are perfect, and we all sin against God every day. Even mortal sins. And we all work to illiminate mortal sins from our life. Thankfully God gives us the wonders of the sacraments and a church that helps us through life to battle sin. A church that’s there for sinners, not for perfect people.Masturbation isn’t any different from any other sin. It’s a challenge, especially for young people and those coming from the secular to the catholic world. I very much doubt that everyone who chimes in with a post speaking against some sexual sin has never, or aren’t currently, sinning against God in some similar way.

Why not be a bit more charitable and helpful, rather than always condemming?

 

[Exalt]

Findings like this really throw the whole Natural Law thing out the window, don’t they? Obviously, masturbation isn’t harmful.

 

[fix]

Findings like this really throw the whole Natural Law thing out the window, don’t they? Obviously, masturbation isn’t harmful.

The natural law refers to natural moral law. The act is harmful. It harms our relationship with the Creator.

 

[Mirror_Mirror]

Findings like this really throw the whole Natural Law thing out the window, don’t they? Obviously, masturbation isn’t harmful.

“Masturbation isn’t harmful” to whom are you speaking? Not harmful to the person? Thier spouse? God?

 

[Exalt]

The natural law refers to natural moral law. The act is harmful. It harms our relationship with the Creator.

The whole basis behind Natural Law is that God designed the world to be a certain way, and things that “mess with” that “certian way” and are harmful to us are wrong. Masturbation is wrong because the sexual organs were clearly desgined to fit into a man and woman having sex. But don’t you also need to prove that masturbation, in of itself, is harmful, too, for it to be wrong? I mean, otherwise, a whole number of things that we do that are “not the way God designed us” would be wrong, too, right? (I mean, our necks clearly aren’t designed to wear jewlery, and, yet, a necklace isn’t wrong.)

And can you really prove that masturbation isn’t the way God designed us? I mean, (and I know this is a bit vulgar), the hand does “fit” quite well, almost as if it was designed to be that way.

 

[Exalt]

“Masturbation isn’t harmful” to whom are you speaking? Not harmful to the person? Thier spouse? God?

This study says that it’s not harmful to themselves.

As for a spouse, I can see how that could lead to some issues. But what about single men?

And as far as God goes, see my above post.