December-03
Q: Have you read the Bible properly? I understand about your pornography view (and homosexuality) BUT when you mention about MASTURBATION is a sin itself, I am not sure that it is, considering it is VAGUELY mentioned in the Bible ! It does NOT clearly state that Masturbation is a sin itself! It DOES state however, that lusting after your neighbour's wife is a sin...(impure thoughts) And you know what? I truly think (and know) masturbation is an acceptable way of coping if you are under the circumstances of being alone (single) and that it is only done to relieve oneself from bodily eruption and is a preventative measure of keeping oneself from actually fornicating out of marriage and if it's not overdone( abused) and mingled with good intentions (thoughts) only. Humans need love they are human, not perfect. And God knows this! (And I’m sure he doesn't expect us to be) I am sorry but I don't buy into YOUR interpretation of the Bible on Masturbation, ALTHOUGH the part of pornography & lusty unclean thoughts practiced in an addictive manner is absolutely unhealthy, you have to admit that there is some exceptions in God's loving eyes... Let God be the judge. He will judge each one of us accordingly, He can read our hearts! Praise God! Amen. - Ann

A: Dear Ann,
Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

He did not say, “If you love Me, do whatever you want, I don’t care.  I’ll let you decide for yourself.”

It is not my interpretation of Sacred Scripture, but our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, in her “Catechism of the Catholic Church” who teaches:

“By masturbation is to be understood 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.  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.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church (section 2351)
 

In plain English, “intrinsically and gravely disordered action” is the same as “Mortal sin.”

 We look to the Church for her guidance.

I strongly recommend that you purchase a copy of our Catechism and read for yourself what Christ is guiding us to do on this issue of masturbation.

 Sacred Scripture, too, is VERY CLEAR in this matter:

 Genesis

(Chapter 38:1-10)

“About that time Judah parted from his brothers and pitched his tent near a certain Adullamite named Hirah.  There he met the daughter of a Canaanite named Shua, married her, and had relations with her.

She conceived and bore a son, whom she named Er.

Again she conceived and bore a son, whom she named Onan.

Then she bore still another son, whom she named Shelah. They were in Chezib when he was born.  Judah got a wife named Tamar for his first-born, Er.

But Er, Judah's first-born, greatly offended the LORD; so the LORD took his life.

Then Judah said to Onan, ‘Unite with your brother's widow, in fulfillment of your duty as brother-in-law, and thus preserve your brother's line.’

Onan, however, knew that the descendants would not be counted as his; so whenever he had relations with his brother's widow, he wasted his seed on the ground, to avoid contributing offspring for his brother.

What he did greatly offended the LORD, and the LORD took his life too.”

It is extremely important for all of us to take note of the fact that Onan’s sin of masturbation offended God seriously enough that He punished Onan by taking his life!

In their fullest sense, sexual relations are intended by God to be both unitive (“The two shall become as one…”) and procreative and life giving (“Be fruitful and multiply.”).

Masturbation is a selfish act which constitutes a dual denial of God’s will.

Therefore, we cannot afford the luxury of deluding ourselves into believing that this act is, at worst, only mildly offensive to God, nor, as Catholics, do we have the freedom to interpret God’s Holy Word as we personally see fit either by overtly ignoring or glossing over this very important chapter.

Lastly, nowhere in either Scripture or Tradition is it stated that we have a “right” to sexual release or gratification.  On the contrary, our Lord Jesus says explicitly, “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.”

For many of us, this compulsion, this addiction is our cross.

We are required to bear it all of our lives in emulation of Him who bore His cross unto death for love of us.

The saints practiced and preached self denial.

This, then is our goal and ideal.

Yes, we human beings, imperfect as we are, need to love and be loved, as love is intended by God, not as it is defined by man.

God’s love is self denying, self sacrificing and giving.

Masturbation is both contrary to God’s love and His natural law because it is selfish and taking.

I hope this helps.

Please know that you and your wife are included in our daily prayers.
God Bless you!

Paul, for the Serenellians