Mortal Sin and Addiction

[WAGirl_98]

In some cases, in my understanding, addiction to something that is considered a moral sin changes the way that it should be considered. But how do you define addiction then and how valid an arguement is that?

 

[Mirror_Mirror]

In some cases, in my understanding, addiction to something that is considered a moral sin changes the way that it should be considered. But how do you define addiction then and how valid an arguement is that?

Let’s take everyone’s favorite one here, masturbation:

2352 By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. "Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action."137 “The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.” For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of "the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved."138

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.

If someone is addicted to masturbation, the culpability of this sin is reduced, but not diminished.

 

[Smber2c]

If someone is addicted to masturbation, the culpability of this sin is reduced, but not diminished.

I’m not sure I get the difference with reduced vs. diminished.

webster.com

reduce -
1 a : to draw together or cause to converge : CONSOLIDATE
b (1) : to diminish in size, amount, extent, or number

diminish-
: to make less or cause to appear less
2 : to lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of : BELITTLE

Would you be able to clarify this for me please?

 

[Malcolm_McLean]

In some cases, in my understanding, addiction to something that is considered a moral sin changes the way that it should be considered. But how do you define addiction then and how valid an arguement is that?

“Addiction” has a technical meaning as well as the more popular one.
It can be extremely dangerous to suddenly withdraw a substance that someone is addicted to. So obviously taking a drug in detox is completely different, in a moral sense, from taking that drug for the first time.

As a general rule any rewarding experience creates a desire for more and more of the same, with pleasure diminishing. It becomes a big moral problem with gambling and sexual behaviour. However gambling is not defined as an addiction in the medical sense, but as a behavioural disorder. That doesn’t mean it has nothing in common with addiction in the strict sense.

 

[Mirror_Mirror]

I’m not sure I get the difference with reduced vs. diminished.

webster.com

reduce -
1 a : to draw together or cause to converge : CONSOLIDATE
b (1) : to diminish in size, amount, extent, or number

diminish-
: to make less or cause to appear less
2 : to lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of : BELITTLE

Would you be able to clarify this for me please?

sorry it was late, I meant to type eliminate, not diminish, sorry for the confusion

 

[puzzleannie]

it is perhaps possible that a person suffering from an addiction is less culpable for his actions, but that does not change the objective nature of the sin involved. The action still is gravely sinful, it still does its damage which is intrinsic to the nature of the sin, and the person is still obligated to use whatever means are in his power to fight and try to overcome the roots of his addiction. It is not a free pass to commit whatever sin has become a habit. Neither is habit an addiction. Addiction has both a psychological and physical component.

 

[Mirror_Mirror]

it is perhaps possible that a person suffering from an addiction is less culpable for his actions, but that does not change the objective nature of the sin involved. The action still is gravely sinful, it still does its damage which is intrinsic to the nature of the sin, and the person is still obligated to use whatever means are in his power to fight and try to overcome the roots of his addiction. It is not a free pass to commit whatever sin has become a habit. Neither is habit an addiction. Addiction has both a psychological and physical component.

I agree with everything that you said. Very well put. Thanks for sharing, I would have said this too except #1 I could not compose my thoughts this well and #2 it was late when I was on last night.

:clapping: for you

 

[baltobetsy]

There is a great article on the Courage website that goes deeply into the idea of addiction to sin.

Here’s the beginning of the discussion:

Considerations Concerning The Personal Responsibliity of the Masturbator

On the pastoral level one must make a distinction between the habitual masturbator and the compulsive masturbator. By definition the habitual masturbator still has control over his behavior, refraining from such for long periods of time, and relapsing for short periods of time. He may use masturbation as a substitute for sexual intercourse, because no women are available (in prison) or because he is divorced, or has never married, or because he is afraid of AIDS. He is able, however, to stop the habit whenever he is motivated to do so, usually for religious motives. Most of the above reasons apply also to a woman who slips into the habit of masturbation. Loneliness and depression are powerful factors in both men and women. In some cases, however, the person crosses the line from habit into compulsion, that is to say, they find themselves masturbating very frequently despite the use of ordinary remedies to avoid it. Then, probably, we are dealing with sexual addiction.

Betsy

 

[WAGirl_98]

Thank you guys for the replies…it makes it much easier to understand the difference!

 

[Nick_Zeman]

Let’s take everyone’s favorite one here, masturbation:

If someone is addicted to masturbation, the culpability of this sin is reduced, but not diminished.

The remedy for all of this with God’s help if you are a a parent who wants to honor God with purity and you need help in being pure the best thing to do is not watch Seinfeld, or Immorality and the City. It is things like that as well as the magazines that cause people to do this sin. I can’t believe James Dobson doesn’t think masturbation is a big deal. If you are at a basketball game look up at the sky during halftime or timeouts. I hate when people play on other people’s lonliness and causing them to sin while making themselves into idols who have bad intentions for others. Some people don’t have a television in their house. The hard think for young kids is the ones who have parents who watch those kinds of TV programs and who won’t shut them off when the kid kindly asks them if they would.

 

[Flopfoot]

Try doing a search on CAF for this issue, I think there have been a few other threads about this topic here recently. The search link is on the second orange bar from the top of the page.

 

[AndyF]

In some cases, in my understanding, addiction to something that is considered a moral sin changes the way that it should be considered. But how do you define addiction then and how valid an arguement is that?

No it shouldn’t. That is why we have the law to warn us.

The habit or addiction is a consequence of the compounding of sin. Every sin agreed to weakens our previous state by the measure of grace removed. It matters little if we ask someone to outline the obstacles on a road ahead if the map advices no one should go on it. The unwise will always venture in areas where they shouldn’t, and once caught will seek out dispensation for the consequences.

AndyF

 

[1exlux]

Regardless, a confession is required concerning the sin, it is not to be taken lightly.
However, you should present the sin to the Priest in a truthful manner.

Example:

Through form of habit i (continue)…

The above entrance to the confession will allow the Priest a better understanding to the dilemma you face.
Additionally, the Priest will understand the on-going obstacle and proceed individually.

Remember, this sin will eventually cease, time and patience along with prayer is essential.
The Priest is completely aware of the above since he has heard the statement “sinning by onself and/or impure thoughts” a million times…

Conclusion:
Pride, Ego & Embarassment keep so-many away from the confession booth.
Our greatest enemy has placed the latter three obstacles directly in our path for a purpose.
Step over these silly obstacles and make your confession, the act was instituted by Jesus to reconcile our sins.
Each time we sin we become aware as to how much we really need Christ!

God bless.

 

[AndyF]

1exlux:

Remember, this sin will eventually cease, time and patience along with prayer is essential.

I think this the exception.

One who embarks on a sincere battle, that is devotion to the Sacred Heart, obligations to the Church, the reception of the Sacraments, can mostly expect a diminishment. Even St. Paul was left to deal with his “thorn”. The best examples we have to date are the examples of those who “have given it their best shot” and were proportioned out graces to at least attain a passing grade and in all probability at most a temporary stay in purgatory.

The odds are stacked against it as well. Out of trillions of humans who are living and who have lived, only 2 have been deliberately given the graces to ensure they attain the state of perfection that it is claimed we are capable of while in exile here.

We cannot negate the possibility of influencing factors not under the control of every new human to be conceived, and is information kept to those in the spiritual realm, such has those who have been stigmatised with reprobation and similar “lists”. Who knows how much this impacts on the proportion of graces he is destined to receive.

So we can be optimistic, but not based on anything factual for us to see.

AndyF

 

[marybee]

Addiction can change a person’s physiological brain chemistry in the area of decision making. It is a real disease!

 

[1exlux]

Today, the Christian is bombarded with so many obstacles.

Example:

In the past one had to go to the corner magazine store and purchase books/material in reference to pornography.
The individual would have to face a somewhat embarassing confrontation etc…

With the home computer the latter element is directed right to our easy chair!
The television has become a proving ground for cursing, nudity along with false realism.
All of the above has desensitized important issues that cause a myriad of problems!
The Porn industry is a 10 billion dollar a year operation, the latter generates a hugh amount of taxation and our Government simply doesn’t care for the welfare of the people.
Otherwise, the authorities would step in and police this failure of mankind.
One may say “Freedom to speak” but this phrase is used far too openly today and quoted completely out of text!

As Catholics we are so blessed to have confession, without this sacrament we would be in grave danger.

 

[AndyF]

Today, the Christian is bombarded with so many obstacles.

Example:

In the past one had to go to the corner magazine store and purchase books/material in reference to pornography.
The individual would …

Agree. In the past a walk down to the shore line with toddlers meant a day buried in sand and people playing volleyball. Today there is semi-nude sections, “G” strings where they might as well be wear nothing, and getto blaster filth for the toddlers to hear, and condoms and hypo needle traps everywhere.

It would seem the Hebrews of Leviticus had more of a one on one with God, where exceptions were being made right and left. Whole exculsion lists of who not to have sex with were drawn up ignoring the obvious fact the list was redundant due to the blanket rule of not marrying family members and sex before marriage was forbidden. It didn’t dawn on the author that the list made it more suspicious as to why it was given in the first place, and it didn’t hide the fact it really implied lax sexual mores were OK.

God also was more lenient in Exodus, where reference to Him turning aside sins of his people because of their hardened hearts.

Today we could do with some of that relaxation due to the increased pressure. For example until the problem improves perhaps masturbation could be made venial.

As Catholics we are so blessed to have confession, without this sacrament we would be in grave danger.

Confessional statistics would help focus areas of most sins and types. The devil will not be able to hide weak spots in society and trends to sin types could immediately be spotted and graphed to assist the sinner. Neither does it breach confessional privacy. Names are not required, and every diocese could post a list of stats. A family entering a neighbourhood with children could stay away from violent crime areas.

AndyF

 

[davidv]

Today we could do with some of that relaxation due to the increased pressure. For example until the problem improves perhaps masturbation could be made venial.

Lowering the standard of excellence doesn’t work. It doesn’t work in sports. It doesn’t work in business. How can it work in our spiritually?

 

[AndyF]

Lowering the standard of excellence doesn’t work. It doesn’t work in sports. It doesn’t work in business. How can it work in our spiritually?

So why was lowering the standard required more then than now?. Was a wrapped beduin woman more enticing than a buttock/breast exposed beach comber?

AndyF

 

[davidv]

So why was lowering the standard required more then than now?.
AndyF

Because Jesus came and established higher standards. See the beatitudes in Mathew 5. He then sent the Holy Spirit to help us achieve obedience.

Was a wrapped beduin woman more enticing than a buttock/breast exposed beach comber?

How is this relevant?