Sin to watch a video the wife and I made?

  • Thread starter Thread starter billpenn
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

billpenn

Guest
From the CCC:

**2354 Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials. **

Given the above, would it be a sin to view a video (yes, that type of video) that my wife and I made? I underlined the part about 3rd parties because we are not displaying it to any 3rd party, nor was it made for that purpose.

Thoughts?

Thanks all!
 
I don’t know if it is a sin but it might not be prudent to make such a video.

Can you imagine if someone broke into your house and stole the video.:eek: It could happen.

My dad died in Vietnamn, forty years ago. When my mom died this year, I got the chance to go through a locked box that was full of letters from him to her. Although I experienced a great deal of pleasure in doing so, I was not exactly happy to find a rather risque picture that my mom had sent him of herself.:eek: Despite my being an adult, I really don’t need to accidentally see my mom like that.:nope:

So, please be wary of creating such images.
 
deb1 said:
I don’t know if it is a sin but it might not be prudent to make such a video.

Can you imagine if someone broke into your house and stole the video.:eek: It could happen.

My dad died in Vietnamn, forty years ago. When my mom died this year, I got the chance to go through a locked box that was full of letters from him to her. Although I experienced a great deal of pleasure in doing so, I was not exactly happy to find a rather risque picture that my mom had sent him of herself.:eek: Despite my being an adult, I really don’t need to accidentally see my mom like that.:nope:

So, please be wary of creating such images.
Click to expand...
It is actually stored on our computer, made with a digital camera. So I guess I have to watch out for hackers!
 
It is a sin period. It is still porn and a sin. It must be confessed and this video must be destroyed.
 
You would still be treating your wife like a porn star. Not exacly the kind of respectful treatment she should get from her husband. She is your wife, not a sex object.

Besides, isn’t the real thing better than the video anyway?
 
CathMass said:
It is a sin period. It is still porn and a sin. It must be confessed and this video must be destroyed.
Click to expand...
Since it does not meet the criterion of “in order to display them deliberately to third parties”, I don’t think I agree…
 
I wonder if such a video could possibly awaken a desire for more pornographic images in an individual? I’m not saying that this would necessarily happen to you or your wife, as you have indicated that this is something for just the two of you to share. But it might lead a person to wanting more of these images. (?) And then perhaps not being satisfied with images of just their spouse…and desiring images of others too? It could also become problematic if one spouse were wanting to watch it by themselves or began thinking about the video excessively. For example if in a marriage the couple needed to abstain for a period of time, after the birth of a child perhaps, the husband may feel drawn to watch the video alone and then find himself tempted to sin. So it could possibly be an occasion of sin depending on the individuals involved. (Again I’m not infering that this will definately happen in your situation.)

BTW I remember a question similar to this was posted on Ask an Apologist. It was answered by Father Serpa who said that it was not a sin for a husband and wife to video themselves in the bedroom. HTH.
 
Would you be okay showing the video to Blessed Mother? It’s not that sex is dirty, but you profane the act when you use it for anything other than what it was intended for. Read JP II’s Theology of the Body.
 
my friend, the fact of the matter is that this video is not bringing you closer to God. Sex is VERY good, in fact, it is the prayer of the Body. This video won’t bring you closer to your wife, and won’t lift your soul to God.
 
For what purpose do you view this video? Is it for personal stumulus and gratification for either you or your wife? Is it to remind you of an intimate moment when you are separated such as when one of you is on a business trip? Is it to help “jump-start” things on some evenings? Does your wife even know you made it?

None of these are legitimate reasons. Frankly, I cannot think of asingle morally neutral, let alone, good, reason to continue to posses or view this material. Of course, there is always the danger that it may get out of your control.

Does this video, in and of itself, glorify God?

The marital act is not for entertainment. It is for procreation, the strengthening of the marital bond and legitmate self-donating pleasure. It is not a spectator sport, even if you are watching yourself.

Personally, I believe making this video almost certainly constitutes a grave evil. Watching it would also a grave sin. Do the ethical and moral thing, destroy it and do not make another.

Additionally, I believe that trying to dissect moral teachings and looking for a loophole, as appears to be the case here, is not a way that will help you to Heaven, or even Purgatory for that matter. Beyond that, it certainly is a violation of chastity.

Finally, I have the feeling that this is a “set-up” question.
 
billpenn said:
From the CCC:

2354 Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials.

Given the above, would it be a sin to view a video (yes, that type of video) that my wife and I made? I underlined the part about 3rd parties because we are not displaying it to any 3rd party, nor was it made for that purpose.

Thoughts?

Thanks all!
Click to expand...
Bill Penn of course it is sinful. It indulges in lust. It removes the sexual act and intimacy which goes with that act and makes it an instrument of lustful thoughts. The sacredness of the act is thus demeaned. Sorry even though it is personl as far as I know it is still sinful. Otherwise mental masturbation would also be seen to be OK.
Grace Angel.
 
billpenn I have tried to find the question in the ask an apologist forum but have had no luck. I think it may have been lost in the crash. I am fairly certain that Father Serpa said this was not sinful - I remember being surprised at his answer and not entirely agreeing with it - but far be it from me to disagree with the good Father. Perhaps, rather than relying on my dodgy memory, you could post the question to Father Serpa for a definitive answer. God bless.
 
What you should have done was ask the question BEFORE you made the video.

Kathy
 
Grace_Angel said:
Bill Penn of course it is sinful. It indulges in lust. It removes the sexual act and intimacy which goes with that act and makes it an instrument of lustful thoughts. .
Click to expand...
The theological ground here is somewhat shakey. Theologically, Lust is an attraction for illicit intimancy. No level of desire of one spouse for the maritial embrace of their spouse can be rightly called Lust.

From NewAdvent
Lust - The inordinate craving for, or indulgence of, the carnal pleasure which is experienced in the human organs of generation.
Click to expand...
The wrongfulness of lust is reducible to this: that venereal satisfaction is sought for either outside wedlock or, at any rate, in a manner which is contrary to the laws that govern marital intercourse
Click to expand...
Lust CAN occur in a marriage in the desire for acts that are not achieve a reproductive goal, but this does not seem to be the case here.

This video would be illicit if used in the context of self gratification though.
 
Matt.5

  1. *]28] But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
    You don’t get a free pass on this just because you’re married to her. Destroy the tape, my brother in Christ.
 
StCsDavid said:
Matt.5

  1. *]28] But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
    You don’t get a free pass on this just because you’re married to her. Destroy the tape, my brother in Christ.
Click to expand...

  1. See above. It’s highly improbable, if not impossible, for a man can be lustful for his wife, if the desire is to complete the marital act in the natural way.
 
Ew.

It’s probably not a mortal sin, but a) it could easily be an occasion of that for someone else, b) as someone said above, you could traumatize your children at some faroff date, c) as you said yourself, storing it on the computer is not secure and asking for trouble, and d) it’s just darned icky.
 
This question was posed in “Ask An Apologist” by a husband and the apologist (I think it was Michelle Arnold) said that there was technically *nothing wrong * with it - but cautioned them to consider the fact that the tape could be discovered by someone else sometime etc.

Technically there isn’t anything intrinsically wrong with doing this. Watching it later together as foreplay let’s say - leading up to the marital act would not be wrong. Anymore than daydreaming about you and your spouse together in anticipation of being “together” soon would be.

A couple or spouse needs to be prudent here of course. If this tape has the potential to lead them into SIN (for instance masturbation or something like that) - then it would* not* be a good idea for them.
Each person knows themselves and what might be a “near occasion of sin” or not.

But bottom line - a personal video of a man and wife being intimate is not in and of itself always wrong. (The passage in the Catechism says as much).
 
Brendan said:
See above. It’s highly improbable, if not impossible, for a man can be lustful for his wife, if the desire is to complete the marital act in the natural way.
Click to expand...
I believe there is a distinction between desiring to make love with your wife and lusting after her. One is the desire to give yourself completely to her in the marital way…the other is to view her as an object to be possessed. One embraces her humanity…the other regards her as something to be used.

Sexual attraction is a beautiful, natural gift of God. It’s when we turn that gift into selfish desire that it transforms into lust.
 
It is a sin period. It is still porn and a sin. It must be confessed and this video must be destroyed.
Click to expand...
You naughty naughty naughty man you.

Personally I think that it is just another dimension of your sexual expression. Personally I do not see any harm in lusting after your wife.

How do a husband end up making love to his wife if he does not lust after her?

We are too hung up by sins below the belt. It is the sins above the belt which do us and society the most harm, lying, swearing, commissioning and perpetrating violence, being unkind, unloving, judgemental, inconsiderate of others and their feelings, etc etc.

I think they are all more serious than a husband doing a bit of lusting for his God given spouse.

Bring Him into it. Tell Him how you feel. Thank Him for His gift of your wife.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top