Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church's teaching on masturbation is that it is a grave sin, an intrinsically and gravely disordered action, and a violation of the Sixth Commandment. This is because masturbation is a solitary act of self-centredness that divorces sexual pleasure from procreation and the marital act, which the Church teaches is the proper place for sex. The Church also teaches that masturbation is an abuse of natural sexual desires, and that it trains people in the habit of self-indulgence rather than self-giving. However, Catholic morality acknowledges that the force of habit can reduce or eliminate responsibility for actions, and that God is merciful and wants to free people from the slavery of sin.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic teaching | Masturbation is always morally wrong |
| Reasoning | Masturbation denies the meaning of sex, turning sexuality away from God and towards self-indulgence |
| Catholic view | Masturbation is a sin |
| Biblical references | Matthew 5:29-30, Matthew 18:6-9, Mark 9:42-48, Matthew 5:27-28 |
| Catechism | Masturbation is "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action" |
| Catholic Church teaching | Masturbation is a violation of the Sixth Commandment |
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What You'll Learn
Masturbation is a sin against the Sixth Commandment
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a sin against the Sixth Commandment. This is because it violates the unbreakable bond between the love-giving and life-giving aspects of the marital act.
The Sixth Commandment, as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), states that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action. It is considered a mortal sin when committed with full knowledge and consent. The Church teaches that masturbation is an abuse of natural sexual desires and that sex is reserved only for marriage.
According to the Church, masturbation is a self-indulgent act that uses the body as a means of personal gratification, rather than integrating one's gift of sexuality into a sincere self-gift to another. It is seen as a dualistic act that divorces the physical behaviour from shaping one's self-identity, trivialising and desecrating sexuality.
The Church's teaching on masturbation is centred on the virtue of chastity, which gives sexuality its proper place in one's life. By masturbating, individuals turn their sexuality away from God and towards themselves, indulging in self-centredness rather than self-giving.
The Church acknowledges that masturbation may be recommended for medical reasons, such as in cases of periodic impotence. However, it is emphasised that this should be explored with a competent physician who respects Catholic values, as the Church does not condone masturbation as a morally licit act.
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Masturbation is a selfish act
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action" and a mortal sin. This is because it is a solitary act of self-centredness that turns people inwards and towards themselves, rather than outwards and towards God and their spouse.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines masturbation as the "deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure". This deliberate act of choosing self-stimulation for sexual pleasure is considered gravely disordered and always wrong. Masturbation is not directed towards another person in love but is instead self-directed, seeking isolated pleasure.
The Church's teaching on masturbation is centred on the virtue of chastity, which means giving sexuality its proper place in our lives. By indulging in masturbation, individuals give in to their sexual desires and fail to exercise self-control, which can lead to a lifetime of difficulty in forming a mature and loving sexuality.
Furthermore, masturbation strips sexual activity of its two main purposes: uniting people and begetting children. It is a violation of the Sixth Commandment, which states that sex is made for marriage and only within marriage can it find its fulfilment. Masturbation, therefore, denies the meaning of sex and makes one less than fully human.
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Masturbation is a violation of chastity
The Catholic Church's teaching on masturbation is centred on the virtue of chastity. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), masturbation is defined as the "deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure". This definition highlights the intentionality and sexual gratification associated with the act of masturbation.
The Church considers masturbation to be “an intrinsically and gravely disordered action” and a violation of the Sixth Commandment. This perspective is based on the belief that masturbation goes against God's intended purpose for sexuality, which is to be expressed within the marital covenant between a man and a woman. In the marital act, a couple becomes “one flesh”, uniting in mutual self-giving and openness to new life. Masturbation, on the other hand, is seen as a self-indulgent act that turns inward, neglecting the integral self-gift that is meant to be shared between spouses.
The Church's teaching on masturbation is not merely a condemnation of the act itself, but a recognition of the harm it can cause to individuals and marriages. It is viewed as a violation of chastity because it fails to give sexuality its proper place in our lives. Chastity, as one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, calls for the integration of sexuality into a sincere self-gift within the context of marriage. Masturbation, by its very nature, falls short of this ideal and is therefore considered a grave sin, or a mortal sin, in Catholic doctrine.
While some might argue that masturbation is a harmless way to release tension, the Church emphasizes the deeper implications of such actions. It is seen as a form of self-centredness that perverts the true meaning of sex, which is meant to unite spouses in love and procreation. This understanding aligns with the Church's broader teaching on sexuality, which values sexual expression within the sacred bond of marriage.
Additionally, the Church acknowledges the power of habit and its potential to reduce one's responsibility for actions. While this does not excuse sinful behaviour, it underscores the importance of seeking help and striving to overcome harmful habits. The Church offers grace and support through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharist, as well as through the guidance of priests who uphold the Church's sexual morality.
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Masturbation is a grave sin
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a "grave sin", a mortal sin, and an intrinsically and gravely disordered action. This is because, according to the Church, masturbation is a violation of the Sixth Commandment, which protects the God-given bond between the love-giving and life-giving aspects of the marital act.
The Church's teaching on masturbation is centred on the virtue of chastity, which means giving sexuality its proper place in our lives. Masturbation is seen as a selfish act that turns a person inwards, rather than outwards towards God and another person. It is also argued that masturbation divorces the pleasure of orgasm from union with a spouse, and that it is not open to the possibility of new life in the same way that marital sex is.
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, "right" is interpreted as referring to "all we hold dear", and the hand is seen as a reference to masturbation.
However, the Catholic Church also acknowledges that the force of habit can reduce or eliminate responsibility for actions, and that God is patient and merciful, wanting to free people from the "slavery of sin".
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Masturbation is a disordered action
The Catholic Church considers masturbation to be "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action". This teaching is based on the belief that masturbation is a violation of the Sixth Commandment and a sin against God's plan for sexuality. The Church teaches that sex is a gift from God, intended to be expressed within the marital covenant as an act of mutual self-giving and openness to new life. Masturbation, on the other hand, is seen as a self-indulgent act that turns one inward, seeking isolated pleasure and failing to integrate one's sexuality into a sincere self-gift to another.
According to Catholic doctrine, masturbation divorces the physical act from its intended purpose, trivializing sexuality and reducing it to a purely biological function. It is viewed as a rejection of God's offer of life and an act of turning away from God and towards oneself. The Church also emphasizes the harm that masturbation can cause to individuals and marriages, considering it a form of sexual addiction that can lead to a lifetime of difficulty.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines masturbation as "the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure". It is considered a grave sin, or mortal sin, when committed with full knowledge and consent. Some biblical scholars interpret Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount as a condemnation of masturbation, where he equates lustful thoughts and actions with adultery.
While the Church acknowledges that masturbation may be a habit that reduces one's responsibility for their actions, it still emphasizes the need to seek help and strive to overcome sinful habits. The Church offers grace through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharist to overcome sinful sexual desires and provides support through its teachings on chastity and purity of heart.
In summary, the Catholic Church's teaching on masturbation is rooted in its understanding of the sacredness of sexuality and its proper place within the context of marriage. Masturbation is considered a disordered action because it violates this divine plan, turning sexuality inward and away from its intended purpose of self-giving love and procreation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Catholic Church considers masturbation a mortal sin. This is because it is considered a selfish act that goes against the God-inscribed bond between the love-giving and life-giving aspects of the marital act.
Masturbation is considered a sin because it is seen as an act of self-gratification that goes against the purpose of sexual organs, which is to reproduce. It is also believed to turn people away from God and towards themselves, fostering a habit of self-indulgence rather than self-giving.
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action". This means that the act itself is problematic, regardless of one's intentions. The Church acknowledges that masturbation can be influenced by psychological factors such as adolescent immaturity or habit, which can reduce or eliminate moral responsibility.
For a sin to be mortal, it must be committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. If a person is unaware that masturbation is considered a sin and does it without seeking guidance, they may have reduced moral responsibility. However, they are still encouraged to seek help from a priest to overcome the habit.
