Article — Bucceroni, Commentaries (1910)
Article III: On Base Conversations
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- Proposition. Very obscene words, which by a continued conversation about these matters from their nature can proximately dispose hearers to venereal delectation, unless they are made from a just cause, per se speaking, are a mortal sin. But less obscene words, which from their nature dispose only remotely to venereal delectation, unless likewise they are made from a just cause, per se speaking, are only a venial sin. The reason is the same as in the preceding proposition, n. 7. But what is said here about conversations must also be said in the same proportion about immodest songs and readings. Although words per se move less to lust than sight, readings nevertheless move much more than words and colloquies, on account of the more prolonged and more intense delay of the imagination in those base matters. - L. 426, 427, 428.
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- Corollaries. 1. Those sin gravely who, before unmarried persons, especially of the other sex, mix among themselves conversations concerning insemination, carnal intercourse, and other things which, with attention paid to the circumstances of the persons, the thing said, and the manner of saying it, can proximately dispose those speaking or hearing to venereal delectation. Nor, per se speaking, are those excused from grave sin who, under pretext of joking, have conversations about these things in equivocal words, but ones sufficiently known; except unless something of this kind is said by mere jest and in passing. For that jest and equivocation, far from removing, rather increases the danger of venereal delectation because of curiosity excited. It is said, with the circumstances attended to, because "of itself it is not evil to utter or hear base words." L. 426. - Likewise to read altogether obscene books without a just cause is a mortal sin, even if this seems to be done from curiosity or for the sake of recreation, because per se this reading greatly provokes to lust. Except perhaps unless those reading, from mere curiosity, on account of advanced age and a cold complexion, or custom of treating venereal matters, do not incur grave danger of lust. L. 426. - But it is certain that those who compose, and also those who sell, notably base books can in no way be excused from grave sin, on account of the scandal of others, although not intended; nor can profit, however great, excuse. L. 428.
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- It is not per se mortal to utter things indeed base, but not gravely obscene, if it is done briefly, through jest or empty solace, unless the hearers are so weak in spirit that they suffer grave scandal. Hence commonly base jests which are uttered by harvesters, grape-harvesters, muleteers, are not grave, because ordinarily they are said and heard for mere jest, and those uttering and hearing them are moved little or not at all. L. 426; G. 420, 4. The same consequently must be said about little songs. - Nor indeed must tender conversations, otherwise honorable, with persons of the other sex always be held as mortal sins, although they are full of dangers, especially if they are prolonged, often repeated, or made in solitary places. L. 422, 426. What, therefore, must be judged concerning loves, as they call them, especially among the younger? Not all indiscriminately are to be condemned of mortal fault; although often a proximate occasion of sinning lethally will with difficulty be absent, at least in the course of things, and with certain circumstances added, as if the lovers meet altogether alone, especially for a rather long time, or by night, etc. L. Prax. Confess., n. 65; G., l. c., 5. - Likewise, to read amorous and lightly dishonorable books per se is not a mortal sin, although in practice it is very dangerous, especially for the younger. L. 426; G. 419. But the theologians deservedly note that these amorous books, which are not gravely obscene, often harm pious faithful more than books that are utterly obscene, which excite horror by the very baseness that they show, and thus deter from reading. But those who compose or sell lightly obscene books indeed sin, even lethally, if they do this to excite lust; but if only for acquiring profit, or on account of another motive not gravely depraved, the sin will be only venial, since books of this kind can be read without grave danger. Yet clerics and religious do not seem, per se speaking, able to compose or spread books of this kind without grave scandal. Cf. St. Alphonsus, App. de libr. prohib., c. 1, n. 8-11.
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- "To mix honorable and familiar conversations and colloquies with a person of the other sex is free from all fault, although in these things you are naturally delighted. Salm., tr. 26, c. 3, n. 22." D'Annibale, p. 2, n. 68, ed. 3. "It does not matter that someone feels a greater inclination to deal with women than with men, because an inclination of this kind is not moral, nor free, but rather natural, or founded in nature itself. Therefore it is not formally evil. Yet it must be confessed that this is troublesome to a chaste mind, and even dangerous to the incautious." G., Cas., t. 1, n. 24; Elbel, de Act. hum., n. 15. - To read obscene books for a just cause, for example, for forming and perfecting style, for learning the truth of history, for informing superiors, for correcting morals, etc., is no sin, provided assent is not given to base things.
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- Note. 1. Those who hear obscene things, if they have authority over those uttering them, ought to restrain them as much as they morally can; if they do not have authority, they are bound likewise to admonish them as much as they morally can, or at least they ought to be silent, especially women, lest they seem to assent to base things; for from this the lust of men is accustomed to be inflamed. "Yet it must not lightly be pronounced that all those who, hearing base speech which on the part of the speaker is mortal, laugh a little, sin mortally; for it can happen that they laugh at the manner of speaking rather than at the things themselves; moreover in that case they do not sin mortally unless they furnish grave scandal. But religious, clerics, and persons eminent in Christian virtues would easily furnish scandal if they laughed at obscene words." Bouvier, Diss. in 6 dec. praec., de turpiloq., 4.
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- Those who, because of boasting, narrate their own base sins frequently sin on account of the scandal of those hearing, and complacency concerning the sin narrated. L. 426; Prax. Confess. 40.