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is it a much serious offense if a priest masturbates than if a layman does it?
 
Masturbation is always a serious offense regardless of who does it.
 
Both are a sin of grave matter. In one case though, there really is a much greater chance of it being mortal than the other. A priest rightly has less of a chance of being ‘ignorant’ or less culpable than a lay person, but both are still in danger.
 
bmullins said:
Both are a sin of grave matter. In one case though, there really is a much greater chance of it being mortal than the other. A priest rightly has less of a chance of being ‘ignorant’ or less culpable than a lay person, but both are still in danger.
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I second this…good post! According to Catechism (1857):
For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.”

For this reason I would contend that most priests should already know about these teachings while a lay person may be less like to know this…but if both are aware of the seriousness of this sin then I don’t think it would be a more serious offense for the priest.
 
I would assume priest. They are more likely to know the teaching (and don’t they take a vow to be chaste?). Although it’s a mortal sin either way.
 
Who are we to judge the severity of mortal sin? I believe this comes under the quote “Judge not lest you be judged”. It is only important to God and the individual sinner until it is properly forgiven through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. At this time it is forgotten by God, but not by Satan. Satan loves to bring our forgiven sins to us in order to discourage us and snare us into repeating the sin.

GO IN PEACE AND SIN NO MORE!!!
 
It would also take on the sin of sacrilege given the priest took solemn promises and is a sacred person. So yes, it is a more serious sin.
 
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