In Catholic teaching, masturbation is considered a sin. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, masturbation is defined as "the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure" and it is deemed to be "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2352). The Church teaches that sexual pleasure is morally good only when it is part of the loving union between a married couple, open to the possibility of procreation.
The Catechism acknowledges that various factors may mitigate the moral responsibility of the individual, such as immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety, or other psychological or social factors. However, the objective nature of the act is still considered sinful.
It is important to note that while the Church holds masturbation to be a sin, it also emphasizes God&39;s mercy and the importance of seeking forgiveness and reconciliation.
