
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, masturbation is considered a grave sin and an intrinsically and gravely disordered action. This is because it is a violation of the Sixth Commandment, which states that sex is meant for marriage only. The Church teaches that masturbation is an abuse of natural sexual desires and that sexual pleasure is only meant to be shared between a man and a woman in the context of marriage. It is believed that masturbation is a selfish act that contradicts the purpose of human sexuality as intended by God.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Catholic belief | Masturbation is a sin |
Reasoning | Masturbation is a violation of the Sixth Commandment and an abuse of natural sexual desires. Sexuality is a gift from God that should only be used within marriage. Masturbation is a solitary act that turns selfishly inward and contradicts the meaning of human sexuality. |
Exceptions | Some believe that masturbation can be legitimate in certain circumstances, such as for medical reasons or when it is done without seeking sexual pleasure or fostering impure thoughts. |
What You'll Learn
- The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a grave sin
- It is an abuse of natural sexual desires, which are meant to be expressed within marriage
- Masturbation is a selfish act, turning away from the intimacy and mutual self-giving of marital sex
- It is a violation of the Sixth Commandment, which forbids lust
- While masturbation may provide temporary satisfaction, it can never truly fulfil natural sexual desires
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a grave sin
The Church's teaching is that sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes. Sexual acts are reserved for marriage, where they unite a man and a woman in a loving, intimate, faithful, free, and fruitful embrace. Masturbation, on the other hand, is seen as a selfish act that turns inward instead of outward towards a spouse. It is considered a disordered action because it seeks isolated pleasure and is never open to new life.
The Church acknowledges that masturbation is a common struggle due to the powerful sexual appetite and the ease of satisfying it through this means. However, it is important to note that masturbation can never truly satisfy natural desires, as sex is reserved for and finds its fulfillment in marriage.
The Church also recognises that there are mitigating factors that can lessen or even eliminate moral culpability for the sin of masturbation, such as affective immaturity, psychological factors, and ingrained habits. Nevertheless, as Christians are accountable for their actions, they are called to strive to unite themselves with the Lord and take practical steps to overcome habits that detach them from Him.
To summarise, the Catholic Church's teaching is clear that masturbation is a grave sin that contradicts the purpose of human sexuality as designed by God.
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It is an abuse of natural sexual desires, which are meant to be expressed within marriage
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is an abuse of natural sexual desires, which are meant to be expressed within marriage. This is because sexual expression is designed by God to unite a man and a woman in an intimately loving, total, faithful, free, and fruitful embrace—and thus in marriage. The marital act is the beautiful, God-given expression whereby a man and woman become "one flesh" in marriage for the first time and subsequently renew their marriage covenant.
Masturbation is a sin against the Sixth Commandment, as it violates the God-inscribed unbreakable bond between the love-giving and life-giving aspects of the marital act. It is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action, a deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure outside of marriage. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines masturbation as:
> "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.' 'The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.'"
The Church's teaching on this matter is clear: masturbation is always wrong and a grave sin. It is a violation of human nature and contradicts the purpose of our sexual selves. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes. It is meant to express two things: the one-flesh love of committed married persons and the orientation of this love toward new life.
Masturbation, therefore, is an abuse of natural sexual desires as it seeks isolated pleasure and is never open to new life. It is a solitary act of self-pleasuring that turns something that should be directed to another—to whom one is committed for life—inward and selfishly. This is in direct opposition to the intimate and mutual self-giving that is the hallmark of the marital act.
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Masturbation is a selfish act, turning away from the intimacy and mutual self-giving of marital sex
The Catholic Church considers masturbation a sin. It is deemed an "intrinsically and gravely disordered action", a violation of the Sixth Commandment, and an abuse of natural sexual desires. This belief stems from the idea that sex is exclusively reserved for marriage and mutual self-giving between spouses.
Masturbation is often viewed as a selfish act, prioritising individual pleasure over intimacy and mutual self-giving in marital sex. This perspective aligns with Kant's philosophy that "the foundation of morality cannot be pleasure". According to this viewpoint, sexual pleasure is acceptable only within the confines of marriage, where both parties consensually share their sexual organs with each other.
The perception of masturbation as selfish is further reinforced by its solitary nature. It is seen as a form of "stealing sexual pleasure from society", diverting pleasure from its intended purpose within marriage. This notion of sexual pleasure as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself, is deeply rooted in Catholic teachings.
However, it is essential to acknowledge that the concept of selfishness in masturbation is not universally accepted. Critics argue that equating pleasure with selfishness implies that any act of pleasure-seeking is selfish. They contend that self-care and prioritising one's well-being are crucial aspects of a healthy life.
Additionally, some argue that masturbation can strengthen marital relationships. It allows individuals to explore their sexuality and understand their desires, enhancing their ability to communicate these desires to their spouses. This knowledge can lead to more fulfilling sexual experiences within the marriage, benefiting both partners.
In conclusion, while the Catholic Church considers masturbation a sin and a selfish act, there are alternative perspectives that challenge this notion. The complexity of the discussion surrounding masturbation highlights the multifaceted nature of human sexuality and the evolving societal attitudes towards it.
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It is a violation of the Sixth Commandment, which forbids lust
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a sin, violating the Sixth Commandment, which forbids lust. This is because it is an abuse of natural sexual desires, which are intended to be expressed within the confines of marriage.
Masturbation is a solitary act of self-pleasure, which contradicts the God-inscribed unbreakable bond between the love-giving and life-giving aspects of the marital act. It is an act of self-indulgence, turning inward and using the body as a means of personal gratification, rather than integrating one's sexuality into a sincere self-gift to another.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines masturbation as "the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure". It is considered a "gravely disordered action", as it seeks sexual pleasure outside of the sexual relationship demanded by the moral order, which is open to new life and mutual self-giving.
The Church's teaching on masturbation is centred on the virtue of chastity, which gives sexuality its proper place in our lives. It is not about snuffing out sexuality, but about controlling it according to one's will, which is true freedom. Masturbation, on the other hand, is seen as a habit that can lead to a lifetime of difficulty and a weak foundation for mature, loving sexuality.
While the Church recognises that psychological factors, such as adolescent immaturity or habit, can lessen the moral responsibility of those who masturbate, it still maintains that masturbation is a grave sin, rejecting God's offer of life.
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While masturbation may provide temporary satisfaction, it can never truly fulfil natural sexual desires
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a sin. It is a violation of the Sixth Commandment, an abuse of natural sexual desires, and an act that contradicts the meaning of human sexuality as intended by God.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines masturbation as "the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure". It further states that "the deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose". The Church teaches that sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes.
Masturbation is viewed as a grave sin because it is considered an intrinsically and gravely disordered action. It is a sin against the body, using it as a means of personal gratification rather than integrating one's gift of sexuality into a sincere self-gift to another. It is a selfish act that fails to recognise the body's role in shaping self-identity and expressing oneself as a human person.
To summarise, while masturbation may provide temporary relief or satisfaction, it falls short of fulfilling natural sexual desires as it does not align with the purpose and meaning of human sexuality as intended by God.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a sin. It is considered a violation of the Sixth Commandment and an abuse of natural sexual desires.
Masturbation is seen as a sin because it goes against the purpose of sexual expression as designed by God. Sex is meant to unite a man and a woman in marriage, creating an unbreakable bond. Masturbation is considered a selfish act that turns inward instead of fostering mutual self-giving.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines masturbation as "the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure." It further states that masturbation is "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action."
If you are struggling with masturbation, the Catholic Church recommends frequent confession, reception of Holy Communion, and practical steps to overcome the habit. God provides grace to help overcome sinful desires, and the Church offers support and guidance.