Giving in to lust hurts other people, says papal preacher

Published: 2007-12-07

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Giving in to lust hurts both the individual and other people, the preacher of the papal household told Pope Benedict XVI and top Vatican officials. Offering an Advent meditation Dec. 7, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa said often those who justify their life of impurity say "it is not hurting other people, it does not infringe on the rights and freedoms of others unless it entails carnal violence." But such reasoning is wrong, he said, because carnal sin not only violates God's fundamental laws governing his creatures, but it threatens everyone. Father Cantalamessa used an example from a Jewish holy book to illustrate how even one individual's personal sin affects the entire community. Quoting the Talmud, he said: "A number of people are sitting in a small boat. One man begins to drill a hole under his seat. The other passengers ask him, 'What are you doing?' He retorts, 'What does it matter to you? I'm drilling the hole under my own seat.' But they reply, 'Yes, but the water will come in and drown us all.'"

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