Is Masturbation Harmless?
Masturbation is the deliberate stimulation of the sexual organs to derive sexual pleasure (i.e. an orgasm), and the Church teaches that it is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action. Any use of the sexual faculty outside of marriage is contrary to its purpose as sexual pleasure is sought outside a marital relationship.
However, masturbation is morally illicit (wrong) for both the unmarried and the married.
The only moral way to enjoy sexual pleasure is within the context of the conjugal act/embrace (during sexual intercourse of the spouses), with penile-virginal penetration, such that the conjugal act remains open to the possibility of new life (conception of the ovum by the sperm after ejaculation in the vagina). So even anal sex and oral sex, being masturbatory acts which replace the conjugal act, are illicit.
Likewise, any act of contraception is deemed an intrinsic evil, i.e. is never morally licit. Contraceptive sex with the condom, the pill or the IUD are again merely a masturbatory act which replaces the conjugal act.
To understand why contraception is wrong, we have to understand the true meaning and purpose of sex. The Church teaches the dual significance of the conjugal act, sexual intercourse between spouses who are married to each other, that both its procreative and unitive significance must never be separated. This occurs in all contraceptive sex acts, in prostitution, adultery, fornication, homosexual sex, sodomy (oral & anal sex), etc. which after the removal of the sexual procreative function through contraception (by the way, such a deliberate removal simultaneously destroy the unitive (loving) function of the sex act) changes the act to be a merely masturbatory one in one seeking in a utilitarian way, the sexual pleasure. The utilitarian attitude in sexual intercourse transforms love to lust, whereby the lover no longer loves (in a self-giving sort of way - a disinterested gift of self) the beloved but now lusts or uses the body of the beloved for the “lover’s” own sexual gratification.
Thus, masturbation is the conscious desiring self seeking to use or instrumentalise the body of oneself or another (objectifying our body or another’s as a sex object) to achieve sexual pleasure for his own gratification (selfish pleasure). Thus, when one lusts / uses one’s own body for sexual gratification, it is also called self-abuse.
The harm of masturbation is more deeply spiritual than merely psychological, as our sexuality lies at the core of our personhood, at our self-understanding and awareness of what it means to be a man or a woman. Fostering a sexuality that embraces promiscuity, sexual licentiousness, and lose sexual morality (not seeing the wrongness of masturbation) causes us to develop or foster an attitude of lust (inclination to see and use others as sex objects for our gratification and pleasure). This habitual lustful vision becomes detrimental to our ability to love as God loves, in and through realising the God given spousal meaning of the body. Lust destroys this meaning, but because of the deeper heritage of the heart, the need to truly love as God loves, we will experience shame and disgust at our own vice of lust in our hearts, no matter what modern man and science (psychology) have to say.
Overcoming the Habit
Self-Knowledge and Asceticism: Adopt means such as self-knowledge and the practice of asceticism adapted to one's situation.
Grace and Sacraments: With God's grace, individuals can prevail through the virtue and gift of chastity. Frequent use of confession and the Eucharist are also crucial.
Prayer: Assiduous prayer is essential.
Discipline: Practice discipline of the senses and the mind, and observe modesty.
Temperance: Practice temperance, which seeks to have the passions guided by reason.
Purity of Intention and Vision: Seek the true end of man with simplicity of vision, and fulfill God's will in everything.
Avoid Occasions of Sin: Be watchful and prudent in avoiding occasions of sin.
To form an equitable judgment about the subjects' moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety, or other psychological or social factors that lessen or even extenuate moral culpability. (Cf Catechism of the Catholic Church no 2352)
