masturbation: catholic view

Fr: Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) # 2352

. Definition

= "the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure."

. Teaching

"'Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of 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.'"
- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Persona humana 9.

. Rationale

It is contrary to the purpose of marriage because 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.'"
- Ibid.

. Possible mitigating circumstances to moral culpability

- "... affective immaturity,
- force of acquired habit,
- conditions of anxiety or
- other psychological or
- social factors...."