Article I: On Obscene Looks

7. Proposition. A voluntary and deliberate look at very obscene things, which from their nature proximately dispose to venereal delectation, unless it is done from a just cause, is, per se speaking, a mortal sin; but a look at less obscene things, which from their nature dispose only remotely to venereal delectation, unless it also is done from a just cause, per se speaking, is only a venial sin. - It is proved. The reason of the first part is that someone so acting exposes himself to the proximate danger of venereal delectation, which is gravely sinful; and therefore he sins gravely. The reason of the second part is that although the object is in some way obscene, and therefore the action concerning it is illicit, nevertheless it does not bring proximate danger of venereal delectation; and therefore that action is not gravely illicit. - Billuart, Diss., art. 16; L. 420 seqq.

8. Corollaries. 1. Looks at obscene pictures, if they are made in passing and from mere curiosity, and if the proximate danger of consent to base delectation is absent, are not held as mortal sins. But a man looking lingeringly at the private parts of a depicted woman does not seem able to be excused from mortal sin, because a look of this kind per se gravely influences base delectation; unless it is done for the briefest time, or at a great distance, or unless the age of the picture has diminished the force of the art, or if the pictures represent only infants, because painted things do not move as natural things do; unless perhaps on account of the frailty of the one looking one must judge otherwise. And this can more easily be admitted on account of custom as regards images and sculptures representing angels naked, or almost naked, as many are in Christian temples. - Therefore those sin gravely who paint or publicly expose obscene images, that is, with the private parts uncovered or covered with a thin veil; it is otherwise if, with other parts uncovered, the private parts are covered. Yet except if something of this kind must be painted for teaching or learning anatomical or obstetrical science, or for another similar just cause. - G. 415, 418, 5; 247, 249; L. l. 2, n. 56; l. 3, n. 424, 428; Struggl, tr. 4, q. 5, n. 27.

2. Per se speaking, and with bad intention or danger of consent because of special frailty excluded, it does not exceed venial sin to look from levity and a certain curiosity at the base parts of animals and at animals copulating. Struggl, Theol. mor., tr. 7, q. 4, art. 2, n. 12; L. 419.

3. "It is not mortal of itself, without danger of venereal consent, to look at the private parts of a person of the same sex (a fortiori of oneself, because one's own things move less than those of another), unless the one looking were very prone to sodomy, Salm., Sanch., etc., or unless, I would add, a beautiful adolescent were looked at naked," L. 419, 420, 421; Billuart, l. c.; or unless the look is made studiously and lingeringly. - But here it must be observed that women are sometimes found who use a mirror so that they may look at themselves immodestly, which circumstance afterwards they do not dare to disclose in confession. Yet it does not necessarily have to be declared in confession.

4. Looks at the honorable parts (that is, those which are open to all) of a person of the other sex, even a beautiful person, per se are not sins. But if they are made from curiosity or with some lingering, ordinarily they will be venial sins. But prolonged looks are not excused from mortal sin if they involve proximate danger of consent to base delectation, especially if a commotion of the genital spirits arises, and a fortiori if the person is loved with inordinate love. Therefore if this look is made from simple urbanity or another honorable cause, there will be no sin. Nor indeed, in order to avoid sin in this matter, is it necessary to walk with eyes lowered and to look at no one; naturally, surely, and without any effort, the just mean must be held. - L. 422; G. 418, 3; Bouvier, Diss. in 6 dec. praec., c. 4, art. 2, sect. 3; Billuart, l. c.

But to avoid scruples in this matter, which often hold timorous men anxious, it is helpful to note these things: 1. An excessive fear of sinning must be guarded against, since it can increase temptations, and even deter from looking at holy Images. 2. Certainly the same modesty is not required from all, but it is to be determined from the state, office, and other circumstances of persons and places. 3. There is a certain grade of modesty which regularly can be observed by all. It consists in this, that especially upon the face of persons of the other sex someone not fix his gaze lingeringly. 4. If someone from a special inspiration and grace of God wishes to preserve greater modesty, he will certainly do a thing of great merit before God and of great edification before men; the Saints have furnished us most splendid examples of this. But let him do it sweetly, with no anxiety of soul.

5. Looks at the less honorable but not base parts of a woman, namely the breast, arms, and legs, are not per se mortal sins, yet with the proximate danger of depraved consent excluded; otherwise this will easily be present if the look is lingering and prolonged, or if the one looking is very prone to venery; but it is less easily present among those accustomed by the custom of their country. - Generally you will not excuse from mortal sin those who without cause look with notable delay at the bare breasts of a beautiful woman, on account of the danger joined to a look of this kind. But they do not sin gravely who, with special danger excluded, look at mothers or nurses nursing infants, or fix their eyes on the uncovered breast of an old woman, or of a younger woman not yet formed. - L. 423; G. 418, 4; Billuart, l. c.; Bouvier, l. c.; Scavini, etc.

6. Looks at the shameful parts of the other sex or at neighboring parts are ordinarily mortal sins, unless perhaps the vision is made from afar and for the briefest time; because looks of this kind, if lingering and prolonged, per se gravely influence base delectation. Nor will you excuse from grave sin if you look at base parts through a very thin and translucent veil, because almost such a look increases lust rather than diminishes it. They except: 1. If the one looking is a child or very old, or very cold, because these are moved little. 2. If the eyes are fixed on an infant, or one worn out by old age, because they move little. Whence maids and nurses who thus look at the boys committed to them are not judged to sin gravely, unless they do it lingeringly or repeatedly and with depraved affection. G. 418, 2. - Hence it is also a grave sin deliberately to look at a person of the other sex wholly naked, unless the look were only light, in passing, or from afar; or to look at married persons copulating. - Struggl, 12; Billuart, l. c.; L. 420, 421; Salm., tr. 26, c. 3, n. 12.

7. All the aforesaid looks, which are lightly or gravely sinful, lack all fault if they are made from proportionate utility and necessity, such as is given, for example, in a physician or surgeon, when he must heal in these parts. - Hence physicians also are excused, as it seems, who receive a stipend from the government to inspect public prostitutes each week and to exclude those laboring with venereal disease from the companionship of others. Likewise young men are excused who cannot learn the art of painting unless they assist at academies or gatherings where naked persons are presented as models, unless, however, their salvation is endangered, as not rarely happens. - Diana, tr. 6, de aliq. Cas. circa mater. luxuriae, Resol. 19; L. 419, 420.