Sin or not?

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Cree

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All right first off hello to everyone since I only just joined. And now I’m just diving right into a question, which seems to have been brought up quite a lot in other posts. I’ve read through a lot of them but the issue just keeps going back and forth so rather then keep count I’m just making my own.

Here’s the background for this question. I’m 16, born and raised catholic, go to a catholic school, a girl, and utterly confused about the issue.

So the issue: Is Masturbation a Sin or Not? I keep hearing the three strike rule and how its either A) A moral sin. B) A grave sin. Or C) both, But then I’ll read something later on about someone who talked to his/ her pastor and was told it isn’t. So the question again is weather or not it’s a sin.

Now I’m going to be honest about it, I’m curious. I’ve tried it but never ‘gone all the way’. No one in today’s society talks openly about it including the Catholic Church. I’ve never heard my Pastor mention it before and in my years of catholic school and Bible school its never been brought up. I’ve looked up many sites online and each says something different or isn’t exactly ‘reliable’.

Society today tells us its totally cool. Its natural, it makes you feel good, it doesn’t physically harm you unless you do it too much, and can even help men with some medical problems. Then, best of all, no one pregnant and there’s no risk of spreading STI’s or STD’s. (The no pregnant part is where I think the church has the most issue with it but I might be wrong)

I’m just curious as to how my body works and since I’ve already decided that I’m waiting till marriage for actual intercourse I was wondering how to release tension and thought it might be a solution. Only problem I ran into was that it may or may not be a sin.

If I’m doing it for the soul purpose of experimentation, and have no lustful thoughts in my head, (which I know is debated by many of you about being impossible but just humor me for now and say this part is hypothetical) then is it still a sin?

I’d love to hear from anyone at all but please I’d love to have an actual pastor or some figure head in their local church speak up. I’m all for everyone’s opinion but what you might think is right could in fact be wrong and you just didn’t know better.

I’m already very confused on the issue so if, when you respond, could just say A) what your relationship to the church is B) where you got this information from and C) -if its a website or a book- if you yourself have checked out the source and made sure its not overly bias in anyway?

Sorry for asking a repeatedly asked question but maybe my simple lay out for this will help someone like me get real answers.

Thank you so much,

Cree. 🙂
 
Cree said:
So the issue: Is Masturbation a Sin or Not?
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Yes, it is. Under all circumstances.
(You do know that there’s been a billion threads on this already, right?) 🙂
Cree said:
I keep hearing the three strike rule and how its either A) A moral sin. B) A grave sin. Or C) both…
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I don’t know what a “moral” sin is… did you mean “mortal” sin?
Masturbation is always grave matter… which means that it qualifies as a mortal sin, provided that you also have sufficient reflection and full consent of the will. If you lack either of these, it might be a venial sin… but that pretty unlikely, and in any case it’s still a sin.
Cree said:
But then I’ll read something later on about someone who talked to his/ her pastor and was told it isn’t.
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Then unfortunately, they were either misled, or misunderstood.
Cree said:
I’m already very confused on the issue so if, when you respond, could just say A) what your relationship to the church is B) where you got this information from and C) -if its a website or a book- if you yourself have checked out the source and made sure its not overly bias in anyway?
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A) Faithful Roman Catholic
B) The Catechism of the Catholic Church, along with everything else in my education.
C) If there’s any “bias”, it’s an intentional “bias” towards objective truth… 😛
 
Yes, it is always a sin, most of the time a mortal sin, though sometimes it can be a venial sin. Always a sin, though.
 
Wow, never mind my post. Just see masterjedi747 post just before mine above. He/she covered it much better and much more thoroughly than I did.
 
SwizzleStick said:
Wow, never mind my post. Just see masterjedi747 post just before mine above. He/she covered it much better and much more thoroughly than I did.
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…“he”, by the way. And thanks. 🙂

For what it’s worth, Cree, here’s the Catechism reference, so you don’t have to go digging for it:

vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm
See Paragraph 2352, under “Offenses Against Chastity”.

And note the phrase “intrinsically and gravely disordered action”… that’s what tells us that it’s grave matter, and thus a mortal sin under ordinary circumstances.
 
If anyone has told you that masturbation is not seriously sinful, they were in opposition to the Catholic Church.

You mustn’t masturbate, at least now that you know, as it would completely divorce you from your relationship with God. Knowing this, if you do masturbate again you would need to go to confession as you would be in danger of going to hell - that is, after all, what it means to be in a state of mortal sin. Since you did not know beforehand how grave a matter this is, you may not be in a state of mortal sin - but it is better that you go to confession as soon as possible anyway, just to be on the safe side (even though you did not “go all the way” masturbating too, these actions are gravely sinful).
 
Cree said:
Here’s the background for this question. I’m 16, born and raised catholic, go to a catholic school, a girl, and utterly confused about the issue.

Now I’m going to be honest about it, I’m curious. I’ve tried it but never ‘gone all the way’.
Society today tells us its totally cool. Its natural, it makes you feel good, it doesn’t physically harm you unless you do it too much, and can even help men with some medical problems. Then, best of all, no one pregnant and there’s no risk of spreading STI’s or STD’s. (The no pregnant part is where I think the church has the most issue with it but I might be wrong)

I’m just curious as to how my body works and since I’ve already decided that I’m waiting till marriage for actual intercourse I was wondering how to release tension and thought it might be a solution. Only problem I ran into was that it may or may not be a sin.

If I’m doing it for the soul purpose of experimentation…

Cree. 🙂
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" Dear Cree.

Everyone is always biased some way or the other… nothing is neutral.
My take is that you would like for us all to tell you its fine and “go ahead” because its pleasuable. And nobody here denies that sex is pleasurable…
But,
You say you are waiting with sex till you are married… and I give you respect for that I really do. However, there is a difference in being chaste and being a virgin … also a difference in being technically a virgin and a virgin.
What you do if you masturbate is that you are only technically a virgin and you will not be chaste/pure/innocent - or whatever you want to call it - anymore…
Because if you masturbate you are *not *saving sex for marriage.
You want to experiment… many people say that today. However, what if your future husband wants to experiment … lets say he has sex with another man who is a virgin like himself. Is it wrong? He does not risk pregnancy, he does not have intercourse with a woman and he does not get a STD…

But you would agree with me he is sinning. How is he sinning? Against the his own body which is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Against his own purity and the purity of Christ who always watches him and wants to live in him, against the person he is with and against his future marriage and bride.

Who told you sex was only intercourse? Thats a grave misunderstanding.
Virginity is not a virtue. Chastity is… and when you one day meet a good Christian man you want to marry he will look at your chastity more than your virginity. Chastity is a life style.

You are made for something far more beautiful and fulfilling than the empty act of masturbation … its an empty and selfish act where you really give your purity away…

Guard what you have and don’t play with your sexuality. Its not an experiment… rats are used for experiments… not sexuality.

Trust me… it wont make you feel happy and fulfilled if you do this… on the contrary… "
  • said someone who was sexually active and regretted it every moment of every day since then. I did not go “all the way” either…meaning I havent had an orgasm or any fear of pregnancy, but I will never call myself a virgin again after what I did. However, I am happy I did not “go all the way”… I have this tiny piece of unexperienced sexuality to offer my future spouse, and it means very much to me… even if everyone else laughs at it.
My authority for saying this:
The real human experience of a Christian woman who was once fooled by her own passions and the devil.

Take care of your self. :hug1:
Peace.
Grace (26)
 
My credentials are primarily that I am a member of the Catholic Church and that I love Christ who gave His life for us. Secondarily, I am a Master Catechist for my archdiocese which means that I went through some rigorous theology classes which allow me to teach the catechists (other religious education teachers and the laity) our Basic Faith formation classes.

While I do very much agree with all of the above posts, I feel that it would be in your best interest to find a priest where you can discuss this matter tailored to you, your relationship with God and your ability to overcome this before it could become a habit. Anytime a priest says something that goes against the Catechism of the Catholic Church we should question him. Yes, I have had priests tell me that it is not a sin at all. I’ve had priests say that it is ALWAYS mortal. The reality is that it is always a sin but not necessarily always a mortal sin. This is where a good confessor will work with you.

Today’s world presents a very lukewarm attitude towards sin. We try not to be scrupulous about every little thing but then we should not think that every immorality is a little thing. So, young lady, my hat is off to you for your diligence in seeking correct Church teaching and your love for Christ. Keep up the good fight and know that you are in good company with those who struggle with the same sins. May God bless you…teachccd 🙂
 
Yes, always a sin.

Mortal most of the time, sometimes venial if the person is unaware of the Church teaching, or suffering some kind of compulsion/addiction.

Masturbation is the same as any misuse of sexuality: fornication, adultery, homsoexuality, etc. Any sexual actions outside of marriage are always sinful.

A) Faithful Catholic
B) Cathechism, Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas, various other theologians, various examinations of conscience
C) No bias. Direct and constant teaching of the Catholic Church

It is very good that you are interested in purity. I commend you.

God Bless
 
nobeerinheaven said:
If anyone has told you that masturbation is not seriously sinful, they were in opposition to the Catholic Church.

You mustn’t masturbate, at least now that you know, as it would completely divorce you from your relationship with God. Knowing this, if you do masturbate again you would need to go to confession as you would be in danger of going to hell - that is, after all, what it means to be in a state of mortal sin. Since you did not know beforehand how grave a matter this is, you may not be in a state of mortal sin - but it is better that you go to confession as soon as possible anyway, just to be on the safe side (even though you did not “go all the way” masturbating too, these actions are gravely sinful).
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Full consent is not always black and white. Yes, she would have knowledge that it is sinful and she would commit the act but would her consent be complete and without compulsion or hinderence? It is in this area that a priest or spiritual advisor would be necessary. Only God and the person committing the sin knows for sure whether or not a mortal sin has been committed…teachccd 🙂
 
Thanks everyone I’m really glad I asked and I feel better for knowing the truth. Thanks for all the advice and I’ll be sure to follow up on most of what you all suggest. Its a relief knowing the actual truth and not being so confused about this issue. Sometimes the English language is so binding when it comes to our feelings so because of that all I can say is thank you all.

~Cree.
 
nobeerinheaven said:
One should not play with fire, even if there is a slim chance the house might not burn down.
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And that is why I stressed that she see a priest or spiritual advisor. One should not pull out a quote out of context…teachccd 🙂
 
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