Lecture on the Sixth Commandment and Offenses Against Chastity (Catechism)

Key Offenses Against Chastity

Lust

• Defined as disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure.
• "Disordered" indicates seeking sexual pleasure isolated from its procreative and unitive purpose.

Masturbation

• Deliberate stimulation of genital organs for sexual pleasure.
• Church's teaching: Intrinsically and gravely disordered action.
  • Sexual pleasure sought outside of moral order's demands.
  • Lacks mutual self-giving and human procreation within true love.
• Moral responsibility considerations:
  • Acquired habit.
  • Anxiety or psychological/social factors.

Fornication

• Carnal union between unmarried individuals.
• Violates human dignity and sexuality's unitive and procreative order.
• Grave scandal when it corrupts the young.

Pornography

• Perverts the conjugal act by removing intimacy.
• Participants harmed by being reduced to objects of pleasure.
• Civil authority should prevent its production and distribution.

Prostitution

• Sins against personal dignity; prostitute reduced to an instrument of sexual pleasure.
• Considered a social scourge.
• Sin of scandal when involving children or adolescents.
• Imputability affected by destitution, blackmail, or social pressure.

Rape

• Offense against chastity and act of violence.
• Violates justice, charity, and wounds respect, freedom, and integrity.
• Causes significant lifelong damage.
• Intrinsically evil act.

Incest and Child Rape

• Considered more grave than other offenses.

Chastity and Homosexuality

Homosexual Acts

• Relations between same-sex individuals, considered intrinsically disordered.
• Violate natural law: closed to life, lack genuine affective relationship and sexual complementarity.
• Cannot be approved under any circumstance.

Church's Stance

• Homosexual tendencies seen as a trial for many.
• Individuals should be treated with respect, compassion, and sensitivity.
• No discrimination should occur.

Call to Chastity for Homosexual Persons

• Encouraged to fulfill God's will and unite difficulties with the sacrifice of the Lord's cross.
• Growth through virtue, supportive friendships, prayer, and sacraments towards Christian perfection.