Just wanted to know the Catholic argument

-- Tom Clarke (tommycuk@another.com), October 05, 2001

Answers

Jmj

Hello, Tom.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states this:
"2352. By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation [i.e., usually self-stimulation (JG)] 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.'[CDF, Persona humana 9.] 'The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.' For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of 'the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved.'[CDF, Persona humana 9.] To form an equitable judgment about the subjects' moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety, or other psychological or social factors that lessen or even extenuate moral culpability."

As you can see, there are two internal quotations in that passage. They are labeled "CDF, Persona humana 9." This means that they are from section 9 (IX) of a 1975 document with the Latin title, "Persona humana" (The Human Person: A Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics). It was issued by the very important Vatican office known as the CDF (Congegation for the Doctrine of the Faith). I invite you to take a look at the entire document, which also has comments about sexual morality in general, pre-marital relations, homosexual acts, mortal sin, and chastity.

But in case you don't have time to look at it, here is the full text of section IX, which goes into more detail than the Catechism does:
"The traditional Catholic doctrine that masturbation constitutes a grave moral disorder is often called into doubt or expressly denied today. It is said that psychology and sociology show that it is a normal phenomenon of sexual development, especially among the young. It is stated that there is real and serious fault only in the measure that the subject deliberately indulges in solitary pleasure closed in on self ('ipsation'), because in this case the act would indeed be radically opposed to the loving communion between persons of different sex which some hold is what is principally sought in the use of the sexual faculty.

"This opinion is contradictory to the teaching and pastoral practice of the Catholic Church. Whatever the force of certain arguments of a biological and philosophical nature, which have sometimes been used by theologians, in fact both the Magisterium of the Church—in the course of a constant tradition—and the moral sense of the faithful have declared without hesitation that masturbation is an intrinsically and seriously disordered act. The main reason is that, whatever the motive for acting this way, the deliberate use of the sexual faculty outside normal conjugal relations essentially contradicts the finality of that faculty. For it lacks the sexual relationship called for by the moral order, namely the relationship which realizes 'the full sense of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love.' All deliberate exercise of sexuality must be reserved to this regular relationship. Even if it cannot be proved that Scripture condemns this sin by name, the tradition of the Church has rightly understood it to be condemned in the New Testament when the latter speaks of 'impurity,' 'unchasteness,' and other vices contrary to chastity and continence.

"Sociological surveys are able to show the frequency of this disorder according to the places, populations or circumstances studied. In this way facts are discovered, but facts do not constitute a criterion for judging the moral value of human acts. The frequency of the phenomenon in question is certainly to be linked with man's innate weakness following original sin; but it is also to be linked with the loss of a sense of God, with the corruption of morals engendered by the commercialization of vice, with the unrestrained licentiousness of so many public entertainments and publications, as well as with the neglect of modesty, which is the guardian of chastity.

"On the subject of masturbation modern psychology provides much valid and useful information for formulating a more equitable judgment on moral responsibility and for orienting pastoral action. Psychology helps one to see how the immaturity of adolescence (which can sometimes persist after that age), psychological imbalance or habit can influence behavior, diminishing the deliberate character of the act and bringing about a situation whereby subjectively there may not always be serious fault. But in general, the absence of serious responsibility must not be presumed; this would be to misunderstand people's moral capacity.

"In the pastoral ministry, in order to form an adequate judgment in concrete cases, the habitual behavior of people will be considered in its totality, not only with regard to the individual's practice of charity and of justice but also with regard to the individual's care in observing the particular precepts of chastity. In particular, one will have to examine whether the individual is using the necessary means, both natural and supernatural, which Christian asceticism from its long experience recommends for overcoming the passions and progressing in virtue."

St. James, pray for us.
God bless you.
John


-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), October 05, 2001.

ummm thought I saw a posting [edited by Moderator]

Tom,

Please read the thread "Moderator's Note" from earlier this year. I think it would be more appropriat to keep sensitive subjects objective rather than personized. This seems to me to easily lead across the boundary of decency, (which could be a thread in itself).

Moderator

-- tom (tommycuk@another.com), October 11, 2001.

you guys are funny. so caught up in the fabric of culture i think you forgot the religion long ago.

-- anonymous (anony@hotmail.com), May 17, 2003.

This does not seem to answer the question completely in my opinion. Sexual desire is extremely strong in the male species from my experience and if there is no other outlet how does one cope with that desire? Wishing and praying for it to go away does not work. Isn't fornication and adultery more damaging in that two people now become involved? The body does slough off through "wet" dreams but when this is absent, then what does one do? I may not be explaining myself very well but neither does the Church's condemnation explain itself very well. Neither is there any specific support within the teachings of Christ or the Bible that I have been directed to that support the condemnation. I am not condoning masturbation, believe me, but neither can I condemn it when no other permanent sexual outlet is available. Please straighten me out on this.

-- David J. Crotta, Sr. (dcrotta@snet.net), February 11, 2004.

The body does slough off through "wet" dreams

This happens to most of the kids when they are teenagers , so , is this wrong or what does this means ??

Salut & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), February 12, 2004.

The body does slough off through "wet" dreams but when this is absent, then what does one do?

What do you mean, "when this is absent." It is never absent. It can happen on any night. (And there is no immorality involved, because it is completely involuntary.)

I may not be explaining myself very well but neither does the Church's condemnation explain itself very well. Neither is there any specific support within the teachings of Christ or the Bible that I have been directed to that support the condemnation.

The Church explains herself very well. You just have to find the explanation, read it, and accept it. Also, remember to "believe in order to understand," rather than "understand in order to believe." Have faith!

I am not condoning masturbation, believe me, but neither can I condemn it when no other permanent sexual outlet is available.

First, you must condemn it, because Jesus does (through his infallible instrument, the Church). Second, "no ... permanent sexual outlet" is necessary. Don't believe the sex maniacs' propaganda that just about tells you that a person needs to have orgasms to avoid dying! Orgasms are something optional in life for those who are called to celibacy (permanent or temporary).

-- (@@@.@), February 12, 2004.

Lest I be misunderstood in stating that "orgasms are something optional in life for those who are called to celibacy (permanent or temporary)" ----
I didn't mean to say that those called to celibacy are free to seek to have orgasms. I did mean to say that, if they happen involuntarily (and only involuntarily), that's OK.

-- (@@@.@), February 12, 2004.