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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
***** Impotence treatment WARNING!! This question and answer is of a mature nature. Parental discretion is advised.	Miguel	Saturday, January 12, 2008
Question: Dear Bro. Ignatius Mary, Recently, I've started suffering phimosis, which is the inability for the foreskin to retract. I discovered this painfully one morning. As you might know, men have nocturnal erections. I went to the urgent care clinic, as I don't have insurance, and was told that aside from circumsion, which would be painful and inconvienent, the other treatment, along with a steriod cream, was to stretch the foreskin over the glans of the penis slowly several times daily, as the tension will cause skin growth. However, this is close to masturbation. Thus, I'd like to know if I'd be allowed to use this treatment? Also, I know this might sound irrevalent, but if I am unable to be cured of this condition and would be partial impotent, would I still be able to marry? Thank you
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM ***** WARNING!! This question and answer is of a mature nature. Parental discretion is advised. Dear Miguel: I am not familiar with the medical treatment you mention, but it does not appear to me to fit the definition of masturbation. The Church defines masturbation as "the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure." (CCC 2352). The therapeutic procedure you describe is not intended to stimulate the penis for sexual pleasure but rather to stimulate skin growth of the foreskin to alleviate a medical condition. If practicing this therapy causes you to have sexual feelings this would be a secondary or "double" effect that is unintended. If you have sexual thoughts you will need to deal with that and certainly act to not indulge such thoughts. As for impotence and marriage, the kind of impotence that makes an attempt of marriage invalid is the type that is Antecedental and Perpetual (CIC 1084.1). Antecedental means that the condition was present before marriage. Perpetual means that the condition is permanent and cannot be cured. The commentary of the Canon Law Society of America states that "to be potent, a man must have a penis, be capable of maintaining an erection long enough to penetrate the vagina at least partially, and to ejaculate there." A key here is that an impotent condition must total and perpetual. If you are "partially" impotent but still able to perform a minimum ability sufficient enough that allows you to deposit semen into your wife's vagina, then you are eligible for marriage. From what you are describing you have remedies for this condition, some of which you may not like, but they are remedies you can do if you decide to get married. Thus, based on the information you have given, it would appear that you can seek valid marriage. 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

*****
Impotence treatment
WARNING!! This question and answer is of a mature nature. Parental discretion is advised.

Miguel

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Question:

Dear Bro. Ignatius Mary,

Recently, I've started suffering phimosis, which is the inability for the foreskin to retract. I discovered this painfully one morning. As you might know, men have nocturnal erections. I went to the urgent care clinic, as I don't have insurance, and was told that aside from circumsion, which would be painful and inconvienent, the other treatment, along with a steriod cream, was to stretch the foreskin over the glans of the penis slowly several times daily, as the tension will cause skin growth. However, this is close to masturbation. Thus, I'd like to know if I'd be allowed to use this treatment?

Also, I know this might sound irrevalent, but if I am unable to be cured of this condition and would be partial impotent, would I still be able to marry?

Thank you

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

*****
WARNING!! This question and answer is of a mature nature. Parental discretion is advised.

Dear Miguel:

I am not familiar with the medical treatment you mention, but it does not appear to me to fit the definition of masturbation. The Church defines masturbation as "the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure." (CCC 2352). The therapeutic procedure you describe is not intended to stimulate the penis for sexual pleasure but rather to stimulate skin growth of the foreskin to alleviate a medical condition.

If practicing this therapy causes you to have sexual feelings this would be a secondary or "double" effect that is unintended. If you have sexual thoughts you will need to deal with that and certainly act to not indulge such thoughts.

As for impotence and marriage, the kind of impotence that makes an attempt of marriage invalid is the type that is Antecedental and Perpetual (CIC 1084.1). Antecedental means that the condition was present before marriage. Perpetual means that the condition is permanent and cannot be cured.

The commentary of the Canon Law Society of America states that "to be potent, a man must have a penis, be capable of maintaining an erection long enough to penetrate the vagina at least partially, and to ejaculate there."

A key here is that an impotent condition must total and perpetual.

If you are "partially" impotent but still able to perform a minimum ability sufficient enough that allows you to deposit semen into your wife's vagina, then you are eligible for marriage.

From what you are describing you have remedies for this condition, some of which you may not like, but they are remedies you can do if you decide to get married.

Thus, based on the information you have given, it would appear that you can seek valid marriage.

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