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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Is this considered a mortal sin?	Faye	Saturday, April 4, 2009
Question: I touched myself inappropriately today, but stopped myself before I reached climax. Otherwise, I haven't touched myself since my last Confession. Is this still considered a mortal sin? I apologize if my wording makes anyone uncomfortable; it's important that I get my point across, though...
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Faye: Yes, to touch oneself for sexual stimulation is grave sin. It does not matter if climax is attained. The Catechism states: 2352 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." God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Is this considered a mortal sin?

Faye

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Question:

I touched myself inappropriately today, but stopped myself before I reached climax. Otherwise, I haven't touched myself since my last Confession. Is this still considered a mortal sin? I apologize if my wording makes anyone uncomfortable; it's important that I get my point across, though...

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Faye:

Yes, to touch oneself for sexual stimulation is grave sin. It does not matter if climax is attained.

The Catechism states:

2352 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."

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum