Podcast Summary: The Catechism in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: Day 307: Offenses Against Chastity (2025)
Date: November 3, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s teachings on offenses against chastity, focusing on paragraphs 2351–2356. The discussion addresses sensitive topics: lust, masturbation, fornication, pornography, prostitution, and rape. Fr. Mike emphasizes both the Church’s call to integrity and the deep wounds caused by these sins, always reaffirming the enduring dignity of every person, whether one has sinned or been sinned against.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Framing the Topic with Sensitivity & Dignity

• Dual Reality: Fr. Mike distinguishes between personal sin and victimization, noting the unique pain of sexual brokenness.
• No Accusation: “There is no finger wagging. There is no accusation. Remember, the evil one is the accuser. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts us, but he also consoles us.” (04:40)
• Dignity Remains: Regardless of history or wounds, “Your dignity is still intact. You are still, as God declares, you are still worth living for. You are still worth dying for. You are still worth conquering death for…” (06:10)

2. Catechism Reading: Summaries of Offenses (07:40–12:00)

Each offense is explained as per the Catechism:

• Lust: Disordered desire for sexual pleasure detached from its procreative and unitive purposes.
• Masturbation: Intrinsically and gravely disordered, but culpability may be lessened by habit, immaturity, or psychological/social factors.
• Fornication: Gravely contrary to the dignity of persons; a grave scandal, especially with the corruption of the young.
• Pornography: Perversion of the conjugal act; harms all involved (actors, vendors, viewers, society).
• Prostitution: Reduces a person to an object; always gravely sinful, but circumstances (coercion, destitution) can reduce culpability.
• Rape: Always an intrinsically evil act; causes deep and lasting wounds, especially grave when committed against children or by those in authority.

3. Deep Dives on Specific Offenses

a. Pornography’s Social Damage (12:30–15:30)

• Fr. Mike emphasizes the comprehensive harm: “Everyone involved in this. Everyone. It does grave injury to every person’s dignity…” (13:15)
• References to Matt Fradd’s The Porn Myth for a secular perspective on pornography’s harm.
• Dispels the ‘victimless’ myth: “Those people involved are willing participants. Nope, not always.” (13:55)
• Ties pornography to marital breakdown and cultural wounds.

b. Prostitution’s Complexity & Culpability (15:45–17:00)

• “…those involved in prostitution… might not be culpable of that, because, again, destitution had no other... way out… Or blackmail or social pressure. Those things exist.” (16:50)
• Clearly names prostitution as a “social scourge” affecting men, women, and children.

c. The Reality and Wounding of Rape (17:05–19:40)

• Expresses pastoral difficulty even mentioning the word.
• Reads: “Rape deeply wounds the respect, freedom and physical and moral integrity to which every person has a right... it can mark the victim for life...” (18:00)
• Offers explicit empathy: “I want you to hear this as the church saying, I see you... you don’t understand what it’s done to me, you’re right. You’re probably right. But the church is saying... we know that it deeply wounds...” (18:30)
• Calls attention to the special gravity of abuse by those in authority.

d. The Flow from Lust to Grave Offenses (19:45–21:00)

• Asserts that grave offenses (pornography, prostitution, rape) are rooted in lust and the breakdown of self-giving love.

e. Masturbation, Habit, and Pastoral Nuance (21:05–25:10)

• Masturbation is “training in selfishness.” (22:45)
• Compassion for those caught in habitual sin; recognizes factors (habit, immaturity, anxiety) that lessen individual guilt.
• Cautions against excusing sin due to habit; advocates for “patient with yourself, but ruthless with your environment.” (24:00)
• “If your phone is your problem, then do something about your phone. Be ruthless with that.” (24:40)
• Realistic about the battle: “Be patient with yourself and continue to pray, continue to go back to confession, but at the same time, be ruthless with your environment.” (25:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On dignity through all wounds:

  “Your dignity is still your dignity. You still are made in God’s image and likeness... As we talk about these topics... let the Holy Spirit convict us. But also let the Holy Spirit console us. If this is part of your story, your story is not over. God can and will continue to bring you healing.” (06:00–06:40)

• On pornography's damage:

  “It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants, actors, vendors, the public. Since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others, it immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world.” — Catechism 2354 (13:10)

• On being both patient and ruthless:

  “Be patient with yourself, but ruthless with your environment… If your phone is your problem, then do something about your phone… One can only be patient with themselves when I know I’ve taken every step I possibly can to free myself from having this poison in my home...” (24:00–25:00)

• On the Church’s awareness of victims:

  “If this has been part of your life… maybe it helps a little bit to realize that the church is saying, no, we know this. We know that that has caused your grave damage. It can mark you for life. If you find yourself still struggling, the church is saying, yeah, we understand...” (18:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment Description | Timestamp | | -------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | | Introduction and purpose of episode | 00:05–04:39 | | Pastoral framing; dignity and healing | 04:40–07:40 | | Catechism reading of paragraphs 2351–2356 | 07:40–12:00 | | Pornography and its widespread harm | 12:30–15:30 | | Prostitution and social/circumstantial culpability | 15:45–17:00 | | The wounding and gravity of rape | 17:05–19:40 | | Connecting grave offenses back to lust | 19:45–21:00 | | Masturbation: habit, culpability, and advice | 21:05–25:10 | | Practical counsel: patience and ruthlessness | 24:00–25:10 | | Episode close; preview of tomorrow’s topic (homosexuality)| 26:00–end |

Summary & Tone

Fr. Mike’s approach is deeply compassionate, direct, and pastorally wise. He presents Church teaching clearly, always emphasizing that these teachings are “not accusations but invitations” to healing and wholeness. Whether dealing with personal sin or the wounds inflicted by others, listeners are reminded again and again of their unshakeable worth in God’s eyes. Fr. Mike’s pastoral realism—encouraging patience and practical action—provides hope for those battling habitual sins or grappling with past trauma.

Next Episode Preview:
Tomorrow’s episode will address chastity and homosexuality, continuing to explore the Church’s teachings on matters deeply affecting the human heart.

“Let the Holy Spirit convict us but also let the Holy Spirit console us.” — Fr. Mike Schmitz (06:30)