Masturbation Isn't Always a Sin. The Church Knows This, But Prefers Not To Say So
Prof. Maria Beisert: Catholic moral norms diverge from what we know about human beings. Contemporary knowledge about sexuality says something different.
By Edward Augustyn Maria Beisert
Edward Augustyn: Did you read Katarzyna Wasiak's piece, Professor?
Maria Beisert, sexologist: Yes. I hear many questions there that are probably the result of the author's deep inner dialogue.
One of them is a question about the Catholic moral norm that doesn't allow a believing, single person with a disability — whether a woman or a man — to satisfy their sexual need. Is that need really so important?
If we consider it merely a biological need, then we could say it isn't, because you can live without satisfying it. But that's a very primitive way of thinking. So it all depends on what place we give this need in our hierarchy.
Does everyone decide that for themselves? Isn't there one model within a single hierarchy of values?
That's a question my students always ask me. My answer is: why on earth should we assume there's only one model of sexuality? Why should we force everyone into a single scheme?
