Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a sin. This is because it is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action that goes against the Sixth Commandment. The Church believes that masturbation is a selfish act that turns people inwards and away from God, and that it divorces the pleasure of orgasm from union with another person. Some biblical scholars interpret the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus referring to masturbation as a sin. However, some Catholics struggle with the Church's teaching on masturbation, finding it unnecessarily severe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic teaching on masturbation | Masturbation is a grave sin |
| Reasons | Self-indulgent, not self-giving; Divorcing the pleasure of orgasm from union with the spouse; Self-gratification, not integrating one's gift of sexuality |
| Biblical reference | In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that lust is equivalent to adultery |
| Catholic belief | God gives his grace to overcome sinful sexual desires |
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What You'll Learn
Masturbation is a mortal sin
According to Catholic teaching, masturbation is considered a mortal sin. It is deemed "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action", and when committed with full knowledge and consent, it is a mortal sin. This means that masturbation is not essential for health and well-being, and that God provides grace and support to overcome such desires.
The Sixth Commandment is broken when one masturbates, as it violates the bond between love-giving and life-giving aspects of the marital act. Masturbation is seen as a selfish act, where one turns inward for gratification instead of integrating their sexuality into a sincere gift to another. It is also argued that masturbation divorces the physical act from one's self-identity, failing to recognize the body's role in human expression.
Catholic teaching emphasizes that masturbation is radically self-centered and un-Christian, directing sexuality away from God and toward the self. It promotes self-indulgence rather than self-giving and separates the pleasure of orgasm from union with a spouse. The Church's virtue of chastity aims to give sexuality its proper place in one's life, neither snuffing it out nor giving it free rein.
Some Catholics have questioned whether masturbation is always a mortal sin, even if one is unaware of the reason why it is considered wrong. The gravity of the sin is a matter of individual conscience and relationship with God. While masturbation is objectively a mortal sin, personal factors may reduce culpability, similar to how missing Mass due to illness or forgetfulness lessens the blameworthiness of that action.
The Catholic Church teaches that redemption from masturbation involves bringing one's desires to Christ, allowing Him to purify and heal, and gradually increasing self-control.
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It is a violation of the Sixth Commandment
The Sixth Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," may at first seem unrelated to the act of masturbation, but the Catholic Church interprets this commandment broadly to include any act that violates the sanctity and dignity of human life. Masturbation is considered a violation of this commandment because it involves the deliberate use of sexual faculties outside of their intended purpose within the context of marital love and procreation. The Catholic Church teaches that our sexual desires and abilities are gifts from God, meant to be expressed and fulfilled within the sacrament of marriage. By engaging in masturbation, an individual is using these gifts for their own pleasure, outside of the context of marital union, which is seen as a selfish act that objectifies the body and reduces the sexual faculty to a mere instrument of self-gratification.
St. Thomas Aquinas, a influential Catholic theologian, argued that masturbation is a violation of natural law because it involves the "unproductive use of a member." In other words, the sexual act is meant to be ordered towards procreation, and by engaging in masturbation, one is using one's sexual faculties in a way that goes against their natural purpose. This understanding of the Sixth Commandment emphasizes the intrinsic connection between sexuality and the creation of life, and sees masturbation as a disruption of this divinely ordained order.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which summarizes the Church's teachings, states, "By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2352) It goes on to say that "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." (Ibid.) This disordered action is considered a violation of the Sixth Commandment because it involves the willful misuse of our sexual faculties, which are meant to be employed in a way that fosters life and love within the context of marriage.
The Church's teaching on masturbation is not merely a matter of legalism or strict rule-following, but is rooted in a deeper understanding of human sexuality and its purpose. The Sixth Commandment calls us to respect the sanctity of life, and this includes respecting the inherent dignity and purpose of our sexual desires and abilities. By engaging in masturbation, one fails to honor the procreative and unitive purposes of sexuality and instead treats one's body and sexual faculties as objects for personal pleasure. This misuse of God's gift violates the commandment to protect and uphold the sacredness of human life in all its dimensions.
Finally, it is important to note that the Church's teaching on masturbation is not intended to shame or condemn those who struggle with this behavior. Rather, it is a call to holiness and a recognition of the profound significance of human sexuality. The Church encourages those who struggle with masturbation to seek healing and freedom through prayer, sacramental confession, and the support of a faithful community. By understanding the deeper meaning of the Sixth Commandment, individuals can find the strength and grace to live a chaste life, honoring the gift of their sexuality and the sacredness of human life.
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It is an act of self-indulgence, not self-giving
According to Catholic teaching, masturbation is a sin. It is considered a "mortal sin", which means it is a grave sin that leads to a separation from God. This is because masturbation is seen as an act of self-indulgence, rather than an act of self-giving.
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is an "intrinsically and gravely disordered action". It is considered a violation of the Sixth Commandment, which states that marriage is a God-inscribed unbreakable bond between the love-giving and life-giving aspects of the marital act. Masturbation, on the other hand, is seen as a selfish act that turns inward, rather than outward towards a spouse. It is viewed as a dualistic act, using the body for personal gratification, instead of integrating one's sexuality into a sincere self-gift to another.
The Church's teaching on masturbation is centred on the virtue of chastity, which means giving sexuality its proper place in our lives. It is not about snuffing out sexuality, but about not giving it free rein. Masturbation is seen as a radically self-centred and un-Christian act, as it turns our sexuality away from God and towards ourselves. It trains our sexuality in the habit of self-indulgence, rather than self-giving, and divorces the pleasure of orgasm from union with our spouse.
Some people struggle with the Church's teaching on masturbation, finding it unnecessarily severe. They may view masturbation as a form of self-love and body positivity, or as a healthy expression of sexuality. However, the Church encourages those with sinful sexual desires to seek God's grace, particularly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, to overcome these desires.
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It is contrary to Natural Law
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action". It is a mortal sin, and a rejection of God's offer of life. According to the Church, masturbation is an act of self-gratification that turns people inward and away from God. This is contrary to the Natural Law, which is based on the belief that human nature is distinct from the nature of other creatures.
The Church's teaching on masturbation is centred on the virtue of chastity, which gives sexuality its proper place in people's lives. It is not about snuffing out sexuality, but about not giving it free rein. The Church believes that masturbation trains people in the habit of self-indulgence, rather than self-giving. It divorces the pleasure of orgasm from union with another person, a spouse.
The Church's teaching on masturbation is based on the belief that sex is meant to unite people and beget children. Masturbation strips sexual activity of both of these purposes. It is seen as a solitary act of self-centredness, which is contrary to the Natural Law.
Some biblical scholars interpret the Sermon on the Mount as referring to masturbation. In it, Jesus says that lust is equivalent to adultery, and warns about lustful thoughts and actions. This interpretation is supported by Anglican priest Andrew Angel, who believes that the reference to "stumbling with the right hand" in Matthew 5:30 is about masturbation.
The Catholic Church teaches that people need to redeem their self-centred, disordered desires. This involves bringing their disorders to Christ and letting Him heal them, which will result in an increase in self-control.
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It is an act of lust
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a sin. It is considered a mortal sin, committed with full knowledge and consent, and is viewed as an act of lust. This is based on the interpretation of Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, where he equates lust with adultery.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, "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" (Matt. 5:27-28). This passage is interpreted to mean that lustful thoughts and actions, including masturbation, are equivalent to adultery and are, therefore, sinful.
The Catholic Church's teaching on masturbation is centred on the idea of chastity, which gives sexuality its proper place in our lives. Masturbation is seen as a self-centred act that turns us away from God and towards ourselves. It is considered a disordered action that divorces the pleasure of orgasm from union with a spouse.
Some people struggle with the Church's prohibition of masturbation, finding it unnecessarily severe. They may view masturbation as a form of self-love and body positivity, empowering them to explore their sexuality. However, the Church teaches that masturbation is a distortion of the true meaning of sex, which is meant to unite people and beget children.
The Church offers grace and support to overcome sinful sexual desires, including masturbation. It encourages individuals to bring their disorders to Christ and allow him to purify their passions and desires, leading to an increase in self-control and a proper expression of sexuality as a self-gift to another.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is a mortal sin. It is considered a rejection of God's offer of life and a violation of the unbreakable bond between love-giving and life-giving in marriage.
Masturbation is considered a sin because it is an act of self-gratification that turns one inward, rather than outward towards God and others. It is seen as a selfish act that divorces the pleasure of orgasm from union with a spouse. Additionally, it goes against the Sixth Commandment as it involves lustful thoughts and actions.
The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation is wrong and contrary to the virtue of chastity. It is seen as a disordered action that perverts the true meaning of sex, which is to unite people and beget children. The Church encourages individuals to bring their desires to Christ and allow him to purify them, leading to increased self-control and a proper place for sexuality in their lives.
