# How does the Pope feel about alternate forms of sexual gratification? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 6, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150 "2006-12-06T23:59:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/21 "2006-12-07T03:24:59Z")
:smack: **Not Lisslald** , **Lissla Lissar**. Sorry. Note: We need an edit function. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/22 "2006-12-07T03:34:55Z")
Can we make a distinction here? **Lust**!= sexual desire. Sexual desire is (according to orthodox theology, as opposed to what Sr. Virgo Perpetua may have told you) normal to humanity, and, in its proper usages, not at all sinful. (See “unitive” and “procreative” causes in **Sarahfeena** ’s post above.) Lust, on the other hand, is the perversion of sexual desire out of the intent which God (according to this theology) intended for it – to cause two people to be attracted to each other, marry, enjoy each other’s bodies, and make babies in the process. To want sex with the girl/boyfriend you love and plan to marry is not sinful; it’s the working out in your life of God’s intent to bring humans together in marriage. To want sex with the hot topless babe on the website the moderators would frown on a link to, with no interest in marrying but just a need to boink, is **not** an element of his plan. That’s lust. I don’t necessarily recommend that anyone needs to buy into this bit of theology. But it’s only fair, if discussing Christianity and sex, to be clear on that distinction. God doesn’t have a problem with sex (though some of his spokespeople may) – but he may have a definite problem with some of the things we do regarding it. That’s the difference between desire and lust. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/23 "2006-12-07T03:53:46Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] (See “unitive” and “procreative” causes in **Sarahfeena** ’s post above.) [/QUOTE] I can’t take credit for that…it was **Lissla Lissar** who made that distinction. It was basically what I was trying to say in my post (simulposted with hers!), but she said it much better than I did! I can see she is paying attention in RCIA! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/24 "2006-12-07T04:18:03Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] Misuse of a colon, though, is a mortal sin. [/QUOTE] Don’t we have enough trouble with misuse of apostrophes? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/25 "2006-12-07T08:16:49Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] Don’t we have enough trouble with misuse of apostrophes? [/QUOTE] Those just make the Baby Jesus cry. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/26 "2006-12-07T08:44:35Z")
It’s a little known fact that this is how the Virgin Mary actually conceived Jesus. You see, after she had finished… servicing her lover, as she was toweling off, she took a small amount of the leftovers and put them in the stove, so to speak. Still technically a virgin. And the rest, as they say, is history. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/27 "2006-12-07T15:21:30Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] Misuse of a colon, though, is a mortal sin. See above: “inherently disordered.” 😉 [/QUOTE] I guess that eliminates [del]butt sex[/del] anal intercourse. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/28 "2006-12-07T18:01:16Z")
> [@](#): > > I can see she is paying attention in RCIA! We were given a copy of _Naked Without Shame_ some years ago, by the friends who have been helpfully praying novenas for our conversion, and phoning us once a week to find out if we’ve converted yet. 😃 Now, I haven’t actually listened to it yet, but I’ve done a lot of other reading. I should get and read _Theology of the Body_, or get Mr. Lissar to read it. Thanks for the complement, and **Sparty** , it’s okay, (almost) everyone gets my name wrong. I like **Poly’s** summation of the difference between lust and desire. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/29 "2006-12-07T18:02:41Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] I guess that eliminates [del]butt sex[/del] anal intercourse. [/QUOTE] That _was_ the pun I was trying for, yes. I was beginning to wonder if it were the equivalent of the tree falling in the forest with no one to hear; thanks for picking up on it! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/30 "2006-12-08T00:04:55Z")
[QUOTE=Señor Piña] If the Pope is opposed to anal sex and condom use because both prevent the making of babies, what is his stance on handjobs and blowjobs? [/QUOTE] They’re fine, although he’d like Sister Mary to be more careful with her nails and teeth in future. I can’t _believe_ no one’s made this joke upthread before now. You guys are slipping. Must I do _everything_ around here? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/31 "2006-12-08T02:33:25Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] That _was_ the pun I was trying for, yes. I was beginning to wonder if it were the equivalent of the tree falling in the forest with no one to hear; thanks for picking up on it! 🙂 [/QUOTE] I was going to make the same joke, but you beat me to it. That’s what happens when I get _behind_ in my SDMB reading. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/32 "2006-12-08T13:12:57Z")
[QUOTE=Señor Piña] If the Pope is opposed to anal sex and condom use because both prevent the making of babies, what is his stance on handjobs and blowjobs? [/QUOTE] “Fifty dollars, same as in town” I am so going to hell for that ---
**Author:** ![Martiju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@Martiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martiju)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/33 "2006-12-08T13:24:45Z")
[QUOTE=Lissla Lissar] But desire= not bad. Lust is generally defined as the use of people for sexual gratification, as opposed to sex that is about self-giving for your spouse’s pleasure. That relates to the Church’s condemnation of pornography, which is based on porn’s inherent inability to be about two people sharing themselves with each other. [/QUOTE] Which assumes, of course, that partners do not use pornography together… ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/34 "2006-12-08T13:48:07Z")
[QUOTE=dtilque] I was going to make the same joke, but you beat me to it. That’s what happens when I get _behind_ in my SDMB reading. [/QUOTE] **Polycarp** was making some good points in this thread, but that stupid pun wrecked 'em. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/35 "2006-12-08T14:38:51Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] **Polycarp** was making some good points in this thread, but that stupid pun wrecked 'em. 😃 [/QUOTE] You’re getting overly anal about people making puns along with giving useful information in GQ, y’know? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150/36 "2006-12-08T15:42:31Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] You’re getting overly anal about people making puns along with giving useful information in GQ, y’know? [/QUOTE] I was hoping for a factual answer with no ifs or butts. :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-pope-feel-about-alternate-forms-of-sexual-gratification/383150.md?page=1)