What is the morality of "relieving oneself" outdoors?

[jjb5985]

I’m not quite sure of any local laws or moral laws on this. I was wondering, as a man, if you have the urge to go to the bathroom and you don’t have a place to go, would going in bushes or the grass outdoors be sinful or wrong? This is assuming people aren’t watching of course and that you are cafeful to be private about it. This would usually be a random place (not on my own property because I’d have a bathroom at my house) and usually where someone isn’t likely to walk or get into anytime soon. This seems to be a common thing for guys to do and I myself have found this somewhat necessary at times.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear JJ,

We get a lot of repeat questions here. But I must say, we have never gotten this one before. As to the question, so long as one does no harm to someone else’s private property and it is done in private, I see no immorality involved. If a mess is made, one is responsible for its clean up.

I can’t believe I answered this.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.