The Church's Teaching on Masturbation and the Path to Liberation

Our genitals are designed for the generative function, to generate new life and unite spouses in a lasting bond.

Masturbation involves self-pleasure and programming our sexual functioning towards pleasing ourselves.

By masturbating, we are treating the other person as an instrument for our own gratification.

The purpose of our sexuality is to learn how to love divinely and be a gift to others.

Through the grace of God, it is possible to break free from the habit of masturbation and live a life oriented towards self-giving love.

What is the Church's teaching on masturbation?

—The Church teaches that masturbation is a disintegration of the generative function and goes against the purpose of our genitals. It is an inversion of the call to love selflessly.

Can one live without masturbating?

—Yes, with the grace of God, it is possible to break free from the habit of masturbation and live a life oriented towards self-giving love.

What is the purpose of our sexuality?

—The purpose of our sexuality is to learn how to love divinely and be a gift to others.

Why is masturbation considered self-indulgent?

—Masturbation involves self-pleasure and programming our sexual functioning towards pleasing ourselves, rather than learning to be a gift to others.

Is it wrong to seek pleasure through masturbation?

—Seeking pleasure through masturbation is contrary to the call to love selflessly and disrespects the design and purpose of our bodies.

11:39The Church teaches that masturbation is a disintegration of the generative function and goes against the purpose of our genitals.

12:57By masturbating, we are treating the other person as an instrument for our own gratification.

13:33The purpose of our sexuality is to learn how to love divinely and be a gift to others.

14:32Through the grace of God, it is possible to break free from the habit of masturbation and live a life oriented towards self-giving love.