Section — Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology
Decisions of the Sacred Congregations Concerning Onanism
"It is asked of the Apostolic See with what theological note the following three propositions are worthy, namely:
For honest reasons spouses may use marriage in the way in which Onan used it.
It is probable that this use of marriage is not prohibited by natural law.
It is never expedient to question spouses of either sex about this matter, even if it is prudently feared that the spouses, whether the husband or the wife, abuse marriage.
Response to the first: that the proposition is scandalous, erroneous, and contrary to the natural law of marriage. To the second: that the proposition is scandalous, erroneous, and otherwise implicitly condemned by Innocent XI in proposition 49. To the third: that the proposition, as it stands, is false, too lax, and dangerous in practice." Holy Office, May 21, 1851.
It is asked: "1. Whether spouses who use marriage in such a way as to prevent conception perform an act morally evil in itself?
If the act is to be held as morally evil, whether spouses who do not accuse themselves of it can be considered as constituted in that good faith which excuses them from grave fault?
Whether the manner of acting of confessors is to be approved who, lest they offend married persons, do not question them concerning the manner in which they use the rights of marriage?
Response to the first: Since the whole disorder of the act proceeds from the malice of the man, who, instead of consummating, withdraws himself and pours out outside the vessel, therefore if the woman, after due admonitions, makes no progress, while the man insists by threatening blows or death, she herself, as approved theologians teach, will be able without sin simply to permit it, and this from a grave cause which excuses her; since charity, by which she is bound to impede it, does not oblige with so great an inconvenience."
But to the second and third it is responded: "That the aforesaid confessor recall to mind that saying: holy things are to be treated holily; and also that he weigh the words of St. Alphonsus de Liguori, a learned man and most experienced in these matters, who in the Praxis Confessariorum, § 4, n. 41, says: But concerning the sins of spouses with respect to the conjugal debt, ordinarily speaking, the confessor is not bound, nor is it becoming, to question, except wives, whether they have rendered it, in the most modest way he can... Let him be silent about the rest, unless he is asked. Nor let him omit consulting other approved authors." Sacred Penitentiary, June 8, 1842.
"Bertha has a husband whom by constant experience she knows to be an onanist. In vain she has tried all means to draw him back from so wicked a crime. Indeed very grave or at least grave evils now probably threaten her, so that she must either incur these evils, or flee from the house of her husband, unless she permits, at least sometimes, the abuse of marriage, etc.
Response: Since in the proposed case the woman on her part does nothing against nature, and gives herself to a lawful thing, while the whole disorder of the act proceeds from the malice of the man, who, instead of consummating, withdraws himself and pours out outside the vessel; and therefore, if the woman after due admonitions makes no progress, while the man insists, threatening blows or death or other most grave evils, she herself will be able (as approved theologians teach) to behave permissively without sin; since in these circumstances she simply permits the sin of her husband, and this from a grave cause which excuses her; because charity, by which she is bound to impede it, does not oblige with so great an inconvenience." Sacred Penitentiary, February 1, 1823.
By another Decision of November 13, 1901, the same Sacred Penitentiary declared that pure and simple onanism is still had, although the husband, in the act of interrupting intercourse and emitting seed outside the vessel, intends the quieting of concupiscence and not pollution; and that consequently he cannot be absolved if he wishes to persevere in that act.