Saintprudence Maybe the guilt was just more effective on me! I barely even masturbated in college because of the power of the guilt. And when I did give in to the temptation, I was a wreck for days
I benefited because what might have been said in church was not reinforced at home. On this forum it seems most are belted because of their parents' influence, not what they heard in church.
Saintprudence It probably helps that Pope Francis, for several years, has preached a more loving and less punishing version of the church.
And I've probably benefited from this too. But nobody seems to pay much attention. Our pastor complained just before covid hit that in a parish our size there used to be 100 marriages a year. But that year, probably 2018 or 19, only six marriages had taken place in the church. If I got married I'd do it barefoot in a gazebo looking out at the ocean. Here:
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/tucks-point-manchester-by-the-sea?select=muUYJpnijsMNcTmXzGgSqw