Rachel Evans
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a sin, and many Catholic individuals struggle with this teaching. The Church believes that masturbation is a selfish act that perverts the sacredness of the marital act and contradicts God's intention for sex as a way for a married couple to unite and become one flesh. The Church also teaches that masturbation is a disordered action that violates the Sixth Commandment and that lustful thoughts and actions are equivalent to adultery. However, some Catholics have expressed difficulty understanding and adhering to the Church's prohibition of masturbation, viewing it instead as a form of self-love and body positivity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic teaching | Masturbation is a grave sin, a mortal sin |
| Reasoning | Masturbation is self-indulgent, not self-giving; it divorces the pleasure of orgasm from union with a spouse; it is radically self-centred and un-Christian; it is disrespectful to God because humans are created in God's divine image |
| Biblical reference | "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell" (Matt. 5:29-30) |
| Interpretation | Jesus refers to masturbation as a lustful action |
| Catholic Church description | "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action" |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholic teachings consider masturbation a mortal sin
- Masturbation is seen as a rejection of God's offer of life
- It is considered a selfish act that trains sexuality in the habit of self-indulgence
- Masturbation is seen as a violation of the sacredness of the marital act
- Some biblical scholars interpret Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount as a condemnation of masturbation
Catholic teachings consider masturbation a mortal sin
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action". It is considered a mortal sin when committed with full knowledge and complete consent.
The Church's teaching on masturbation is based on the belief that sex is intended to be an expression of love between a married man and woman, as well as a means of procreation. Masturbation, on the other hand, is seen as a selfish act that turns inward instead of outward towards a spouse. It is also believed to foster a habit of self-indulgence rather than self-giving, and to divorce the pleasure of orgasm from union with a spouse.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is interpreted by some biblical scholars to refer to masturbation when he says:
> "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell." (Matt. 5:29-30)
Here, Jesus is saying that lust is equivalent to adultery, and that lustful thoughts and actions are sinful. The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a sin against the Sixth Commandment as it violates the unbreakable bond between the love-giving and life-giving aspects of the marital act.
However, Catholic morality acknowledges that the force of habit can reduce or eliminate responsibility for one's actions. Psychological factors such as adolescent immaturity and lack of psychological balance can also lessen moral responsibility.
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Masturbation is seen as a rejection of God's offer of life
Catholic teachings emphasise that sexual love is truly human only when it is an integral part of the commitment between a man and a woman in marriage. Masturbation is viewed as a disordered action that perverts the sacredness of the marital act and conditions individuals to value sex as a means of selfish pleasure rather than as a way to unite with another person. This belief is supported by biblical references, such as the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus calls for accountability for both actions and the intentions of the heart.
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a grave sin, or a mortal sin, that leads to a rejection of God's grace and a disruption in the process of becoming fully human and Christian. It is believed to foster a self-absorbed inner man, leading to a pattern of self-gratification that can be challenging to overcome. However, the Church also acknowledges that habits can reduce or eliminate responsibility for these actions, and that God provides grace and support to overcome sinful desires.
To summarise, the Catholic perspective on masturbation as a rejection of God's offer of life stems from the belief that it prioritises self-indulgence over the sincere gift of sexuality within marriage. This view is supported by biblical references and the Church's teachings on sexuality and chastity. While masturbation is considered a sin, Catholic morality acknowledges the influence of habits and provides resources for overcoming sinful desires through grace and redemption.
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It is considered a selfish act that trains sexuality in the habit of self-indulgence
The Catholic Church considers masturbation a "grave sin", or a mortal sin. This is because it is seen as a selfish act that trains sexuality in the habit of self-indulgence, rather than self-giving.
The Church teaches that masturbation turns people away from God and towards themselves. It divorces the pleasure of orgasm from union with another person, and instead focuses on individual pleasure. This is considered to be in direct opposition to the meaning of sex, which is to be a fully human, self-giving act.
Some biblical scholars have proposed that Jesus refers to masturbation in the Sermon on the Mount, when he says: "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell". Here, Jesus is saying that lust is equivalent to adultery, and that lustful thoughts and actions are sinful.
The Catechism states that "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 Church acknowledges that the force of habit can reduce or eliminate responsibility for actions, and that people should seek help to overcome sinful habits.
However, some Catholics have struggled with the Church's teaching on masturbation, finding it unnecessarily severe and hard to understand. They have questioned how something that feels so natural and harmless could be considered a sin.
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Masturbation is seen as a violation of the sacredness of the marital act
The Catholic Church considers masturbation a sin and a violation of the sacredness of the marital act. This is because the Church believes that God designed sexual expression to unite a man and a woman in a loving, intimate, faithful, free, and fruitful embrace that is total and becomes "one flesh" in marriage (Gen. 2:24). Masturbation, on the other hand, is seen as a selfish act that turns inward, violating the God-inscribed unbreakable bond between the love-giving and life-giving aspects of the marital act.
The Church teaches that masturbation perverts the sacredness of the marital act and conditions individuals to value sex as a means of selfish pleasure rather than as the fulfillment of marital vows. This belief is supported by the interpretation of Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:27-28), where he equates lustful thoughts and actions with adultery.
Catholic teachings emphasize that sexuality transcends the biological sphere and concerns the innermost being of a person. Masturbation is viewed as a dualistic act that divorces physical behavior from shaping self-identity and fails to recognize the essential role of the body in human expression.
Some Catholics have expressed disagreement with the Church's stance on masturbation, arguing that it is a natural and healthy release of sexual tension. However, the Church maintains that masturbation is a disordered action that hinders spiritual growth and contradicts God's plan for human sexuality.
The Church offers guidance and resources to help individuals overcome masturbation and cultivate self-control, encouraging them to bring their struggles to Christ for healing and redemption.
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Some biblical scholars interpret Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount as a condemnation of masturbation
The Catholic Church condemns masturbation as a "disordered action" and a grave sin. It is considered a sin against the Sixth Commandment as it violates the God-inscribed bond between the love-giving and life-giving aspects of the marital act. The Church teaches that sexual expression is meant to unite a man and woman in marriage, and that masturbation perverts this meaning by being an act of selfish gratification.
> "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).
Jesus then warns about the right eye and right hand causing sin:
> "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell" (Matthew 5:29-30).
The reference to the right hand is interpreted by some as a condemnation of masturbation. The qualifier "right" is said to refer to "all we hold dear", including anything we see or touch that is an occasion of sin. This interpretation is supported by Anglican priest Andrew Angel, who sees it as a reference to masturbation.
However, others argue that the sermon is expressed in hyperbole, and that Jesus is using rhetorical devices common among rabbis of his time to emphasise the seriousness of sin and the need to avoid it. Additionally, the purpose of the sermon is said to be correcting a fundamental misconception about the Law, rather than creating new prohibitions.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church condemns masturbation as a mortal sin and a violation of the Sixth Commandment. It is considered a selfish act that perverts the sacredness of the marital act and contradicts the belief that sex is made for marriage only.
Masturbation is seen as a disordered action that turns people inward and uses the body as a means of personal gratification, rather than uniting a man and woman in a loving embrace. It is also believed to be a rejection of God's offer of life and an obstacle to spiritual growth.
The Bible does not explicitly mention masturbation. However, some scholars interpret certain passages, such as the story of Onan in Genesis 38 and Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:27-29), as condemning lustful thoughts and actions, which could include masturbation.
Catholics are encouraged to bring their sexual desires to Christ for healing and redemption. Prayer and reliance on God's grace are recommended to overcome sinful desires and experience sexuality in a way that aligns with Catholic teachings.
Catholics believe that masturbation can cause damage to people's lives and marriages, contradicting a strong foundation for mature and loving sexuality. It is also associated with negative physical and mental health consequences, such as memory loss, lack of concentration, and eye problems.
