Proposition. Very base touches, which from their nature proximately dispose to venereal delectation, unless they are done from a just cause, per se speaking, are a mortal sin; but less base touches, which from their nature do not dispose proximately, but only remotely, to venereal delectation, unless likewise they are done from a just cause, per se speaking, are only a venial sin. It is proved. The reason is that one touching in the former way either himself or another person exposes himself, or even another person, to the proximate danger of venereal delectation; but in the latter way to a danger only remote; nor indeed is there present a reasonable cause for either touch, which would make it honorable. Therefore. - Billuart, de Temp., Diss. 6, art. 16; L. 415-418; St. Thomas, 2.2, q. 154, a. 4; q. 156, a. 2, 4.
Corollaries. 1. To touch the genitals of brute animals is ordinarily only venial. But to continue these touches all the way to the effusion of semen is probably mortal, because it is an action most vehemently exciting to venereal delectation. Nevertheless, if someone did this from mere levity and curiosity, and experienced that he was in no way moved venereally from it, he could not be condemned of mortal sin. Tamburini, Explic. Decal., l. 7, c. 8, n. 5; Sporer, de Matrim., n. 697.
Touches of one's own body, even in the private parts, do not exceed venial sin when, venereal affection being excluded, they are had only in passing and from mere levity or curiosity, because they are not very strong incentives of lust. L. 419; G. 416; Billuart, l. c. - But here it must be observed that a woman, for example, who has touched herself by means of some instrument, is not bound to reveal this circumstance, even if she has introduced it into the private parts, because from this there is not had a new species of sin. Nor likewise is it necessary explicitly to declare in what part of the body base touches of this kind were had. Therefore the confessor ought not to ask about these things.
Touches in the private parts of another person of the same sex, or in neighboring parts, even over garments, are ordinarily not excused from grave sin, unless perhaps they are done from wantonness, jest, levity, and in passing. G., l. c.; Salm., tr. 26, c. 3, n. 50; L. 420.
It does not exceed venial sin to touch honorable parts, for example, the fingers, hand, face, of a person of the other sex, if these things are done from mere levity, and there is no special danger of venereal delectation by reason of the manner in which these touches are made, or even by reason of one's own or another's frailty. - L. 415, 418.
Touches in the less honorable parts of a person of the other sex, such as the breast, legs, arms, if they are done from mere levity, curiosity, jest, etc., also do not exceed venial sin, always with special danger of venereal delectation excluded, by reason of the manner in which these touches are made or even of one's own or another's frailty. L. 430. - "Whence to hold the hand of a woman, to twist the fingers, to touch lightly the neck or shoulders, to place the foot over her foot in passing, etc., is not a mortal sin, unless, by reason of one's own personal misery or that of the other, there exists grave danger of lust. On the contrary, a young man who draws a girl onto his knees and holds her sitting there, or by embracing her presses her against himself, at least ordinarily sins mortally, and the woman voluntarily suffering this cannot any more be excused from mortal sin." Bouvier, l. c., de tactib. impud., 6; Ithurriaga, Cas. 51, n.
Gravely to be rebuked is the boldness of those young men who deliberately put their hand into the bosom of a woman; for a lustful affection, if it does not precede, certainly follows from such a touch, as experience teaches; add that the very woman who is touched is not rarely thus exposed to the danger of pollution or of lustful delectation. Touches of a woman's breasts, especially of one already pubescent, are mortal when they are pressed and lingering; but venial if they are light and are done in passing, superficially, and without lustful affection. Thus also concerning a girl touching her own bosom. Reciprocal lingering touches of women themselves among themselves upon the breasts are per se mortal, because not only to touch thus, but also to be touched thus, greatly influences the venereal matter. - Scavini, l. 1, n. 794, Milan 1874.
Touches in the base parts, that is, in the genital parts, or those which are nearest to them, of a person of the other sex, even had for a brief time, whether they are done immediately or mediately over the undergarment alone or even over garments, regularly cannot be excused from grave sin, either because they show an affection for venereal delectation, or because they contain the proximate danger of venereal delectation. Yet probably maids are not to be accused of grave sin who touch the private parts of infants while they dress them, even if from levity or a certain curiosity; otherwise, however, if this were done with delay, or by immediately repeating the touch, because of the proximate danger of venereal delectation and, when the boys begin to grow, because also of the danger of the boys themselves. Wherefore maids of this kind must be gravely turned away from such a depraved habit. Sanchez, de Matr., l. 9, d. 46, n. 11; Salm., tr. 26, c. 7, n. 37; L. 420, 430; La-Croix, l. 3, n. 902; Ithurriaga, Cas. 51, n. 6; Billuart, Diss. 6, art. 16, who nevertheless adds: "A man who from levity or jest touches a woman in passing in the region of the private parts over garments can be excused from mortal sin, because this does not seem gravely to influence carnal commotion."
As other incomplete acts, about which in the preceding articles, so also touches are not evil from their intrinsic nature, as is clear from the reason constantly adduced, but only extrinsically, namely on account of the proximate danger of venereal delectation or of consent to it. And indeed all these acts from their intrinsic nature do not pertain to lust or the venereal matter, which is contained only by intercourse, pollution, or carnal delectation which proximately disposes to these or follows them in the genital parts; but they belong per se to sensuality, as is clear from what has already been said above, n. 2. Besides, "these touches or looks, apprehended as means of health or necessity, do not so move the imagination or the flesh; but if from another delightful apprehension creeping in they move gravely, this is per accidens from the misery of nature and beyond the intention of the agent, to whom, since he has a just cause of placing those acts, the effect that followed is not imputed. Besides, even granted that these acts per se influence commotion, nevertheless they have another good effect equally immediate, which can be intended, the evil being permitted, as I said above, art. 11, de poll. Always understand: provided danger of consent to the very venereal delectation arising from it is absent." Billuart, l. c. I said third.
Therefore all the aforesaid touches are altogether lawful from proportionate necessity and utility. Hence physicians touching from necessity the private parts of a person even of the other sex do not sin, even though per accidens they suffer involuntary pollution. Nor do those sin per se who touch themselves: 1. for wiping away the filth of the body, and so men can clean away uncleanness lying hidden under the foreskin, from which they suffer grave inconvenience; 2. for quieting an itching which arises from the acrimony of a salty humor flowing into the private parts; and this has place both in men and especially in women, and in some almost continually; cf. Milne Edwards, l. c., t. 9, pp. 53, 68; 3. for curing infirmities, although danger of pollution is present in all these touches. Nevertheless, if the itching, which sometimes is almost intolerable, is lighter, it is to be suggested that they abstain from touches insofar as they can without grave annoyance. Yet the confessor must use great discretion in these matters. For doubts of this kind are accustomed especially to trouble persons of timorous conscience. But exhortations, if they are a little too vehement and are not seasoned with an open declaration that otherwise every guilt is absent, will very often and easily entangle consciences in most troublesome scruples. - L. 417, 419, 420; Hom. Apost., n. 3; St. Thomas, 2.2, q. 154, a. 4; G. 416; Billuart, Diss. 6, art. 16; Bouvier, etc.
Rather, those who suffer itching in the private parts should be counseled to apply other remedies more efficacious than touches, for example water, either simple or medicated, yet according to the prescription of a physician, and especially cleanliness of those parts. - But it is not lawful to touch oneself if that itching is not itching properly so called, or arising from blood or humors, but is entirely venereal itching, or a certain vehement excitation to pollute oneself from too great an abundance of semen. This venereal itching is very unlike that which all experience in other parts of the body, and when pollution has followed it ceases altogether. Debreyne, Moechialogie, part 1, ch. 1, art. 5; 8, ch. 2, art. 2, sect. 1.