Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Sexual Addiction and Worthily Receiving the Eucharist

Speaking on masturbation, paragraph number 2352 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

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, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.

This is the closest we have to a magisterial pronouncement on culpability and sexual addictions. Some have taken this paragraph to mean that they possess a sort of "invincibility" regarding their sexual addictions. That is, no matter how many times they knowingly give their full consent to viewing pornography, they can continue to receive our Lord in the Eucharist without a need to go to confession first. Their reasoning goes something like this:

a) I am addicted to pornography.
b) Therefore, based on CCC 2352, I have a reduced moral culpability.
c) Therefore, I cannot be giving my true full consent when I view pornography.
d) Therefore, pornography (for me) cannot constitute mortal sin [see requirements for mortal sin in CCC 1857-1859] and is such, only venial sin.
e) Therefore, viewing pornography has no bearing on if I can partake of the Eucharist. I can partake of the Eucharist without the necessity of confession first.

This entire line of reasoning is faulty for a few reasons. Firstly, how can you if you are addicted to pornography or not? At some point in the battle against lust, one reaches a point where he is no longer an addict. However, we cannot necessarily say when this occurs. Only God knows for sure. Secondly, addiction is not a either/or phenomena. Rather, it exists on a spectrum. On one end, a man views pornography once or twice a year. On the opposite end, another man views pornography daily and is seeking sexual partners online. At what point in the spectrum does one no longer become an addict? Again, these are questions that God alone can answer. Thirdly, read St. Paul writing to the Corinthians regarding those who receive the Eucharist unworthily: For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died (1 Corinthians 11:26-30).

The bottom line is that using pornography offends God. When the possibility of further offending God exists by profaning him in the Blessed Sacrament, why take such a risk? Both bodily and spiritual life and death are on the line. Yes, the Eucharist is filled with infinite graces, but only for those who receive worthily. Those who use pornography should never take such a chance (the consequences are too dire). Simply see a priest for confession, confess your misuse of sexuality, and then worthily receive the Lord. Only then will you receive the love and grace of God Himself. Christ Almighty says: He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him (John 6:54-56).

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is entire blog is very helpful and encouraging. I really want to become a priest, but lust is absolutely one of my biggest obstacles (not to mention vices). I will be referring to this cite whenever I feel my resolve wavering.

I am totally bookmarking your page. Keep being awesome 100% of the time, Matthew

& Thanks

Unknown said...

Priest: God our Father, your gift of water brings life and freshness to the earth; it washes away our sins and brings us eternal life.

We ask you now to bless this water, and to give us your protection on this day which you have made your own. Renew the living spring of your life within us and protect us in spirit and body, that we may be free from sin and come into your presence to receive your gift of salvation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

THIS FORGIVENESS DOES NOT APLY TO SINS OF A SEXUAL NATURE???

Priest: As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ's love, let us acknowledge our failures and ask the Lord for pardon and strength.
or Coming together as God's family, with confidence let us ask the Father's forgiveness, for he is full of gentleness and compassion.
or My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.

THIS FORGIVENESS DOES NOT APLY TO SINS OF A SEXUAL NATURE???

All: I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

All: Amen.

THIS FORGIVENESS DOES NOT APLY TO SINS OF A SEXUAL NATURE???

In the first 5 minutes of Mass I've asked my Father to forgive my sins several times, and according to you his response to me is... "not until you tell these sins of a sexual nature to a priest, for confessing your sins of a sexual nature to me (god) is not good enough".

I believe St. Paul and the Catholic church got it wrong on this one. Truth pressed to the ground will rise again.

It is when we need him most that he is there for us. Think about it!