Topic: Masturbation

Source of this posting:  Moderator response to emailed question

Date originally posted: March 11, 2002

Moderator who originally posted this source: J. Ruffo

Question: What is church's stance on masturbation?  Mortal sin in what circumstances .

Answer: 

Dear Dennis, 

The Church’s official position on masturbation: “The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.”  That’s a quote from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. 

Can masturbation be sinful?  I think the only time masturbation could be considered seriously sinful is if someone is using this activity to avoid one’s obligations to one’s spouse.  Modern moral theologians tell us that masturbation is a normal part of one’s psychosexual development.   Most people go through phases of masturbation, during adolescence, for example, individuals separated from their spouses in war time, the elderly, and others in unique situations of life.  It’s hoped that individuals not become fixed or stuck in only this form of sexual expression, but rather develop a relationship with another person with whom one can express one’s own sexuality in an appropriate loving and intimate way.  

Father John