Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 182.  Thu 11-07-91 18:15  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: David Gardner
 Subject: Masturbation

³    I am confused about what the Church says about masterbation.  I have
³ read several articles about it and some say that it is a mortal sin,
³ some say that it isn't a mortal sin, and some say it depends.  Such as
³ if someone starts doing it not knowing it is wrong, then finds out that
³ it is much later, but they have been doing it so long it has become a
³ "habit" (their word) that it is hard to stop that it isn't, but if
³ someone starts doing it knowing all the time that it is wrong but does
³ it anyway it is a mortal sin.  Who is right?
³                                                Thanks
³                                                      David Gardner
³  
 
Dear David,
 
It will be clearer if we go from general principles to particular
cases.  Then we have a modus operandi we can use to judge many sorts of
human behavior, not just one.
 
Every mortal sin has three elements, which must be present and
operative.  If any one is diminished or absent, the sin is not mortal.
 
The tree elements are: 1) the action or omission must be objectively
serious; 2) it must be done with sufficient reflection, i.e., the
sinner must know the matter is serious and that he is indeed doing it;
3) it must be done with full consent of the free will.
 
1) If a matter is truly serious, but the person THROUGH NO FAULT OF HIS
OWN dose not know it is serious, he cannot be guilty of a mortal sin,
even if objectively the action is sinful.  On the other hand, if an
action is not sinful, but I believe it is, and go ahead and do it
anyway, I commit a sin subjectively, even if objectively there is no
sin.
 
2) If what I am about to do is in my mind DOUBTFULLY sinful, I must
resolve the doubt before acting.  If I act without resolving the doubt,
I am taking the risk that it IS IN FACT sinful; I am guilty of sin.  I
am saying, in effect, "Whether it's a sin or not, I'm going to do it."
 
3) If freedom is restricted in anyway, there can be no mortal sin.  A
fully formed habit, especially an addiction, can so restrict freedom of
action that I am not fully responsible for what I do.
 
About masturbation, there is no doubt about its objective gravity.  The
Church teaches that in and of itself it is a mortal sin.  It is a
misuse and misdirection of a sacred faculty, the power to join God as
the co-creator of a new human person, made in God's image and likeness.
 
If a habit has been formed innocently, the habit may so diminish
responsibility as to make the act less sinful here and now, perhaps
venial or even less.  If the habit was deliberately formed, the
individual actions may be still gravely sinful.
 
Both the habit and the individual acts must be stoutly opposed through
generous cooperation with God's grace, prayer, frequent confession, and
Holy Communion.
 
                                Sincerely in Christ,
 
                                Father Mateo