Wow! The Catholic church has changed a lot since when I was a child...

That's an interesting perspective of him to take. I wonder if he's a secret femuscle follower himself or has some other kind of hidden fetish that gave him some empathy with you?
(by the way, I hope you're not Blindy505 because of all the masturbation - Priest's orders or not!)
Depends on the Priest.
Some will accept there are a LOT of stupid rules that were only important when the book was first penned (don't masturbate, homosexuality is a sin, etc.? All because reproduction was important.) and some will cling to old rules to justify a prejudice.
And he's right. Your fetish is unique, why be embarrassed about it? I mean sure it's one thing to feel a bit iffy just blurting out "Damn check out her biceps" when your friend is checking out a girls butt. But just like I don't want my friends and family finding my regular porn. It's not a shame thing. It's just weird.