Masturbation always mortal sin?

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My wife is no longer capable of sex due to paralysis after back surgery three years ago.

Since it is impossible for us to have sex, is masturbation still a mortal sin in this case?
 
I’d say no, but also know it’s not what the Church teaches and we’ll see a lot of comments against this post.

Jim
 
I’m single with no opportunities for sex and can’t masturbate.

You’re married with no opportunities for sex with your wife and you can’t masturbate.

You’re no different from single men and priests. Masturbation is a sin.
 
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Yes, I think it is. But you’ll probably get a variety of good (and bad) advice here. Best to ask your pastor.
 
DeniseNY said:
Best to ask your pastor.
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Another option for the OP would be to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The section on masturbation is very clear. And it would be a good idea to check out the catechism’s section on the morality of acts. The Church teaches that some acts are always gravely sinful no matter the circumstances.
 
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True, but as we sometimes see very often here, some seek to find a masturbation loophole or “get out of jail free” card. Getting direction from someone face to face can be a lot more impactful.
 
I’m sorry you are going through this, but, yes, masturbation is an intrinsically grave sin. The circumstances don’t change the fact that it is intrinsically sinful. It will always be a grave sin, even when life circumstances make it a big temptation.

The only thing that would make it not a mortal sin would be something that impacts the other two requirements for a sin to be mortal: full knowledge or complete consent.

So, for example, a young person who doesn’t realize what they are doing wouldn’t have full knowledge. Someone who has the habit so deeply engrained might have their ability to consent compromised.

Neither of those seem to apply in your case (from what you have described).

I agree with Denise that talking to a priest about this might be helpful for you. It’s a trial to be sure.
 
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Clowny said:
My wife is no longer capable of sex due to paralysis after back surgery three years ago.

Since it is impossible for us to have sex, is masturbation still a mortal sin in this case?
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The Catholic Catechism teaches on the subject of masturbation . “To form an equitable judgment about the subjects’ moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety or other psychological or social factors that lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.”

It is for your confessor to make the judgement referred to in the Catechism .

Pleae take the matter to a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation .
 
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Another masturbation thread on CAF. Yay!

We should really have a drinking game for this.

One tequila for the first masturbation thread on any given week. Two for the second. Three for the third.

Come Saturday, let’s see who’s left standing.
 
If the game devolved around homosexuality threads, it would be over in a day or two.
 
Try not being so insensitive to the issue the OP is going through.

It’s not a joke !

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Try not being so insensitive to the issue the OP is going through.

It’s not a joke !

Jim
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No, thank you.

I will continue to express my dislike of masturbation threads that just proliferate throughout these boards. Questions that should go to pastors and confessors, rather than post here and get unfaithful responses like yours.

They’re not asking for counsel. They’re asking for validation.

Hence. Drinking game.
 
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Clowny said:
Since it is impossible for us to have sex, is masturbation still a mortal sin in this case?
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Meh… I don’t really think so.

The Church doesn’t give masturbation much weight as a sin. Supposedly it’s the most common sin confessed, yet clergy never talk about it. I think that’s your clue as to how important it is.
 
You need to talk with your Doctor about this issue. Is there any chance of recovery for your wife?
 
Does the church really need to opine on and micromanage married people’s private sexual lives to this extent?
 
Fauken said:
The answer is yes, it’s a mortal sin.
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If the question is truly, whether anything is a mortal sin, your answer is errant.

It may be grave matter, but mortal sin requires more than the act.
 
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Clowny said:
My wife is no longer capable of sex due to paralysis after back surgery three years ago.

Since it is impossible for us to have sex, is masturbation still a mortal sin in this case?
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My friend, this is your new cross. While my wife can technically have sex, she has developed a phobia of it. So I rarely have sex with my wife.

But masturbation is never the answer. However, we all fail from time to time. When you do, go to confession right away. I’m lucky, because by my office, I have access to confession every day.

Pray on this, and look at the lack of sex as an opportunity to make you holy by sacrificing and giving it up to the Lord

God bless!
 
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