As an older man who grew up Catholic, I now realize that the church did a major disservice to me, and continues to do the same to young Catholic men (and women) as well as to priests (and nuns). That disservice was to teach me that any expression of my sexuality was a sin unless it was by intercourse with my wife (which no young Catholic male has). Of course I "sinned"! I have masturbated with a passion from when I was 12 to the present, both alone and with friends in many variations of what most men know as "circle jerks." (I have also had my share of intercourse.) But, with that came a terrible load of guilt, and I am sure that guilt followed me into adulthood, marriage, and all my sexual relationships. I do not think I am completely over it even today. I now realize that the truth is that early and continued expression of sexuality is not only normal but needs to be encouraged. To not do so can cause intense suffering, and in many cases aberrant behavior, e.g., the abuses of kids all over the world by clergy in positions of trust. So I think all Catholic boys and men (including clergy) should not only wank as they desire and can, but that just maybe the church should encourage and teach it. (For the record, I have serious problems with the Catholic requirement of celibacy for their priests, brothers, and nuns.) A pertinent anecdote: Nancy Friday (who wrote several books on female expressions of sexuality, the best known being My Secret Garden) once gave a lecture at the Miami Book Fair. During the Q&A period one woman rose and said, "You have taught me that I do not have a sewer between my legs, and that my sexuality is part of me. How can I ever thank you?" There was a long silence. Then Nancy Friday said, "You could teach your daughters to masturbate." I think that advice, which was probably ignored, should be given to all parents, fathers and mothers alike, and extended to sons as well. There are terrible taboos on doing such, but think of what such teaching could alleviate. So, Father, wank whenever you feel the need and have a safe place to do it. You will be a better priest for having done that!
Do you find yourself masturbating more often during some seasons than others? Why?
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