Article III: Concerning Bestiality

I. Bestiality (beestachtigheid) is concubitus with a brute animal. In order that it be perfectly consummated in the notion of bestiality, there must be present an effusion of semen into some vessel, and indeed a natural one, or one destined for coitus. Hence where it is a reserved sin, it is to be understood in this way, unless otherwise expressly noted.

II. Bestiality per se, as a distinct species, is the gravest of all sins of lust, because it most of all disturbs the order of nature, and through it man is compared to beasts of burden, so that he becomes one flesh with them. See Lev. XX, 15-16.

Its species is not changed whatever the genus or sex of the animal may be.

III. To bestiality is reduced:

1. concubitus with a succubus or incubus demon, appearing under human form, because the demon is of a diverse species from man. This sin adds to bestiality a species against religion, namely the malice of superstition; besides, other malices can be added according to the form of the joined person, religious, of the same or a different sex, under which the demon shows itself. Rarely does the demon truly appear; ordinarily it happens from a certain vehement hallucination that someone really judges himself to have concubitus with a demon.

2. Likewise necrophilia, or copulation with a dead female, which is sometimes committed by guardians of the dead and shows an altogether depraved sense. This sin according to the thing participates in the malice of pollution, because semen is cast into an inanimate thing; of fornication, because of the external form of a female; and of bestiality, because of the diversity of species. But this last is not always perceived by the sinner, and therefore according to affection the species of the sin depends on the apprehension and intention of the one acting, for example effective pollution and affective fornication.

IV. Observations. 1. This crime is committed especially by country-dwellers and keepers of livestock, and by certain women who use dogs for fulfilling libido.

2. Immodest touches with an animal, whether the genitals of the animal are touched, or one's own genitals are handed over to the animal so that it may touch or lick them, or one's own genitals are applied to it so that by its help, as by an instrument, venereal pleasure may be procured, are not properly and effectively bestiality; nor do they have its malice affectively unless they are done from affection of bestiality, but they can lead to it. Indeed, touches of the genitals of an animal are not necessarily mortal sin; nevertheless they often provoke pollution, in which case they are gravely sinful, but not bestiality.

3. Bestiality exercised with an animal of the same sex, although per se it does not differ in species, can sometimes be done from sodomitical affection toward an undue sex or toward an unnatural vessel.