Section — Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884)
§ I. On Idolatry
- Idolatry is an action by which worship due to God alone is attributed to a creature; and this is done not only by sacrifice, but by any sign of honor by which someone intends to submit himself to a creature as to God, for example by genuflection. - St. Lig. n. 12.
A twofold idolatry is distinguished, namely 1º Material or simulated, when someone, without internal affection, from grave fear, exhibits worship to an idol. It would also be called material if it proceeded from invincible error, for example if someone, falsely thinking that a Host was consecrated, adored it. In the 1st case it would be a mortal sin; in the 2nd none, as is clear.
2º Formal and proper, which is done 1º by adoring a creature as God; 2º by exhibiting worship to a demon or to another creature as if to God, or at least with the mind of obtaining something from such a creature which can be asked from God alone 1. - St. Lig. n. 13.
1 Others more clearly distinguish perfect and imperfect idolatry. They call that perfect which has infidelity taken strictly, namely an error of the intellect, annexed to it, and therefore exhibits worship to a creature because it attributes divinity to it. But imperfect they call that which, not from error, but either from hatred against God, or from the desire of obtaining something, exhibits external worship to a demon or to another creature, as to God.
But it is outside controversy among all, that any idolatry whatever, whether perfect or imperfect, or even only simulated and external, when, that is, someone exhibits worship to an idol as God not from error or evil will, but merely from fear, for example of a tyrant, is a mortal sin.